*Park Avenue Armory Gala, Bette Midler's Hulaween Party*

As the crisp Autumn air rolled in, it quickly became evident that I'd be on at least 2 large jobs simultaneously for the duration of the season. In September, while working on a window project for Tiffany & Co at the Burke and Pryde studio; I was commissioned by AHZ Concepts to design the decor for 'Boudoir Boheme,' a sensual soiree at Malmaison in Washington, D.C. Before putting in a full day at the studio; I spent my early mornings sourcing online, and after work hit the pavement shopping. The day before the event, I piled into a van with a gaggle of showgirls and a mountain of sumptuous decor. We arrived at the swank French restaurant in D.C, and transformed the space with decadent pillows, ropes, lanterns, and fabrics. The party was an exuberant fete; with a warm and inviting crowd, and a bevy of contortionists, burlesque vixens, and belly dancers shimmying about. The Bedouin tent was a hit! It quickly became the hot spot for lounging and turned into the event's makeshift photo-booth. Thanks for a fab night D.C!

  

     Decor Design by Sarah Sparkles 

            for AHZ Concepts and Balaibalon at Boudoir Boheme

 at Malmaison, Washington D.C.

Next up in the land of art adventures; one of my absolute favorite jobs of the season was assisting Costume designer Darrell Thorne with preparations for the Park Avenue Armory Gala. His assignment was to design costumes for 18 dancers inspired by the ornate chandeliers, architecture, and armor inside of the magnificent historical landmark. To top it off, they provided him with a studio inside the Armory, for a powerful daily dose of inspiration. Most EPIC studio EVER!!! After spending my days in holiday window production at the Bergdorf Men's store, I would come and Swarovski crystal encrust the mask Darrell would be wearing for the Gala. On the night of the big event, it turned into to an outright glamor endurance sport. I dressed and draped the dancers with fabric and chains at record speed, and help them put on Darrell's towering, sculptural headdresses. It was such a pleasure to watch Darrell's unique vision and essence of the Armory coalesce and come to life for one out-of-this -world night. 

 

photo by @dapigluo

            

                            Costume design, fabrication, and Performance by Darrell Thorne
                                    Jewel embellishing and wardrobe assistance by Sparkles
                                                        for Park Avenue Armory Gala.

My absolute DREAM JOB of the season came in October, when I was commissioned by AHZ Concepts to make a Swarovski Encrusted Crystal Motorcycle for a private art collector's Prince vs Richard Prince themed Halloween party. This project was so glorious, its getting its own post. :)

                                  Swarovski Motorcycle by Sarah Sparkles for AHZ Concepts
                                           Prince x Richard Prince Halloween Party 2016

After pulling the home stretch all nighter to get the crystal motorcycle out the door for the Prince x Richard Prince party; next up was the decor install for Bette Midler's Hulaween party at the Waldorf Astoria with set designer Douglas Little. Hulaween is the annual fundraiser for Bette's non-profit New York Restoration Project. NYRP plants trees, revitalizes parks and gardens, and funds free arts culture in NYC's green public spaces. This year's theme was 'Witches Ball.' I coordinated the fabulous crew, and we all rocked the 60+ table install. Most of us would be back in the trenches together just two days later for the home stretch of production for the Van Cleef and Arpels holiday windows.

                                              'Hulaween' Decor Install at the Waldorf Astoria,
                     Art Direction by Douglas Little, Install by Sarah Sparkles and DL Crew

The night after Hulaween, when I thought I couldn't possibly do any more art or parties; I hopped in an SUV with Abby Hertz and headed to do an installation for the U Are So Lucky party at the stunning Alder Mansion in Yonkers. Abby was commissioned by the event collective Caravan Gitane to do her 'Blood, Fire, Sex, Magic Ritual' in a mysterious, subterranean room in the bowels of the estate. Abby invited me to create an alter space for her to perform in, with roses, furs, chains, and candles. Her powerful, soul baring ritual was the divine culmination of a truly bewitching Halloween weekend.

                                                             photo by Erica Camille
                                          Ritual by Abby Hertz, Alter by Sarah Sparkles
                                      for Caravan Gitane at U Are So Lucky, Aldor Manor
                                                                  October, 2016

*Gucci Fashion Week Windows, Swarovski Crystal Props, Bergdorf Installations and Darrell Thorne!*

2016 began with a flurry of exciting, creative projects in the Bergdorf Goodman visual department. No sooner then I could wipe off my New Years glitter, we began taking down the illustrious holiday windows, and putting up two new sets of Men's store fashion windows and the 7th floor Decorative Home interiors displays at women's under the watchful eye of Visual director Shane Ruth. I lovvvved working on this interiors installation. The premise being downtown chic takes over her stylish, vintage Granny's apartment. We did an extensive wall treatment of ribbons, lace, stencils, and spray paint, accompanied by Bergdorf's fashion and decor merch, and specialty  furniture and art objects from 'Mantiques Modern.' Using the realistic, antique mannequins was the icing on the cake!

 

Oh the joy of taking a can of spray paint to the walls of this illustrious house of high fashion!!!

Installation by Sarah Sparkles and BG Crew, Art Direction by Shane Ruth, Fashion by Gucci, Marni, Dries van Noten, Kentshire Estate Jewelry, and Prada.

The next exciting turn of events was getting a call from designer Johanna Burke of Burke and Pryde asking me to do large, custom sparkle props for BG's Gucci Fashion week windows out of the Sparkledome studio. The answer is YES!!!! One of my major life callings is to make intensely sparkling objects out of my studio and anywhere for that matter... YES. The assignment was to embellish larger-then-life snakes that were designed to emulate the blinged-out appliqués on Gucci's most recent fashion collection. The 8ft and 5ft sparkle snakes overtook my studio. With a two week deadline, I worked around the clock cutting and glueing paillettes, weaving strands of sequins, beads and gems. Upon pick up, I went straight into the Gucci window install at the Men's store to culminate my 100hr work week. :) 

Embellished snakes by Sarah Sparkles/Sparkledome Studio, Window direction by David Hoey and Shane Ruth, Fashion by Gucci. Special thanks to Johanna Burke for fabulous art direction on the props, and my trusted assistants Abby Hertz and Charlotte Lily Gaspard.

Up next was the '5th Avenue Safari' installation in Bergdorf's 7th floor Decorative Home loft. This was a really fun environment to create, with my highlight being making faux mud brick walls from scratch. There is even an indigenous fashionista that presides high above the room on a bridge, and a custom made treehouse! 

                                     

 Very grateful to work with this awesome team of artists! Sean Slaney, Erin O'Brien, Elliot De Cessare, Ryan Shaeffer, with Art Direction by Shane Ruth. 5th Avenue Safari on Bergdorf's 7th floor is up until June.

Dream come true alert!! This March I did my first job directly for ***SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL.*** The mothership of all things sparkling and good. :) It is one of my major longterm life goals to work in Swarovski's bling arsenal. So it was to my great joy, when they reached out and asked to hire me to do a 360 degree treatment on the props I had embellished for the sight line of the 2015 Bergdorf holiday windows. Now Mr. Alligator and Blue Ribbon are in Swarovski's archive of bedazzled objects that are going to be used in shoots and installations around the world <3

 

Dream come true to work for Swarovski!!!

Custom crystal embellishment by Sarah Sparkles/Sparkledome Studio.

                         
The day after submitting my bedazzled props to Swarovski I thought I might sleep in, however the sparkle Gods had other plans. I woke up to a phone call from Darrell Thorne, one of my absolute favorite costume designers in NYC. He asked if I could come to his studio and rhinestone embellish a mask for a photoshoot that was in two days. So I threw on my glitter, and off I went. :)

                Costume design by Darrell Thorne, Mask and partial wing embellishment by Sarah Sparkles.

Thus concludes a supremely epic art season. Am so deeply grateful to work with such talented, inspiring artisans and creative directors. Reaching the milestones of working directly for Swarovski, and more sparkle projects out of my own studio has shown me that with clear focus, and being willing to give it your all, you can make dreams come true. So Very Grateful <3

Summer Shenangans: Chashama Gala, Mermaid Parade, Casa de Curiosa, and More...

 Summer time... and the livin' is.... HOT!!! Holy heat wave NYC. Now that I finally installed an AC in my bedroom, I am recovering from a (much-needed) mental vacation. Lots of swimming, sleeping, day dreaming, and walks in the woods. After so many months of working around the clock on finalizing my book, while working numerous art job... I needed a break. And whether I wanted one or not, 90+ degree weather for days can make that happen... In the meantime I have begun to start catching up on spending quality time with friends. As I sit down to write about the art adventures of late, I realize that many of my friends are interwoven in this story and are a huge source of inspiration. So grateful!!!

In June I was invited to be one of the featured artists for the annual Chashama Gala curated by AHzconcepts. Chashama is a fantastic arts organization that offers the invaluable service of providing New York City artists with free or low cost studios and gallery spaces.  For the Gala, I performed with my old friend Flambeaux as a live "human candelabra." He cast a mold of my body on the beach at Coney Island and at the event hosted an interactive installation, where the audience was invited to build a hot wax sculpture on my body. I was also asked to create an installation to compliment the performance so I designed the "Crystal Mandala" backdrops to invoke the essence of an altar. The show was a huge success, I far surpassed even my own expectations. :)

 

 

Shortly after the Gala- around the time of the Summer Solstice, is one of my absolute favorite days of the entire year: Mermaid Parade!!!!! It has been ordained as one of my high holy days. A national holiday! Better then Christmas. FOR REAL. Every year I get together with a group of my friends- some seriously talented costumers- and parade through the streets of our beloved home to the freaks- Coney Island. It is a special day when the faery mermaid pirate folk get to show New York City just how real magic gets ;)

Mermaid Day would not be the same without a romp on the beach with my dear fellow siren Kai Altair. The Brooklyn-based songstress/dancer produces the annual Mermaid Lagoon event to raise funds and awareness for the protection of our "Mama Ocean"

 Every Mermaid Day, my friends turn it out SO HARD. Some of them are in the ranks of the most talented costume designers in New York City. This year did not disappoint. Here are a few of my favorite costume moments from Mermaid Day 2013.

                                                        Kat Wise- Mermaid Parade 2013

                                                Machine Dazzle- Mermaid Parade 2013

                                                      Darrell Thorne- Mermaid Parade 2013

                                      
  Every year I design new costumes and accessories in preparation for Mermaid Parade. One of my greatest passions in life is designing and bejeweling costumes, jewelry, and accessories for glorious occasions of ethereal transformation.

 

                               Mermaid necklace, bra, and bag by Sarah Sparkles 2013            

2011                                                              2012                                                            2013

After the mermaid parade, I jumped ship and headed up to Casa de Curiosa-(also known as Curio and the Spire) my dear friends magick house in the mountains of upstate New York. Curiosa/Curio is the home of my dear friends Veronica Varlow and Burke Heffner. Burke designed this majestic creation after losing their old house in a devastating fire. Burke, Veronica, and lead carpenter Tyrone Featherly spent many months building this house, at times accompanied by different factions of our gang. One year ago, I was on the 4 person team that painted this epic 47ft tall castle. This summer we focused on the less glamorous, but very important work of doing returns (house moneyyyyy!) and cleaning up the grounds to transform it from a work site into a beautiful home.

 

                                       Casa de Curiosa/Curio- Designed by Burke Heffner

Back on the home front, all I want to do is go to the beach and swim laps in the pool. But a girls gotta pay them bills. In the past few weeks, I have worked with the Bergdorf visual team doing installations for all five streets of windows at the Men's and Women's store. I also started to prep props for the holiday windows out at the warehouse, and will be in the BG studio a few days this coming week working on holiday production. Yup, Xmas in July. Welcome to my world :)

Last but not least, the final stages of producing the hardcover edition of my book Parades, Parties, and Protests is fully underway. There have been some snags, but the end is near. The softcover is already available on Amazon. When I have the final hardcover book in my hand, that is when I will savor that I have just finished writing a book. In the meantime now that my brain is cooling off, I'm currently working on content for the website, FB page, and planting the seeds for fall launch parties. More info to come! Happy Summer <3