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Funny Business
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Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge looking into the camera, wearing a respirator mask. She is light-skinned person wearing a green crocheted hat, a dark blue knit jacket and has a long braid on her left side with a plum and dark blue fabric woven through her gray hair. Her workshop is out of focus in the background.
Image description: A black and white photo of Persimmon Blackbridge looking into the camera, mouth closed. She is wearing a crocheted hat, a dark jean jacket, her chest length braid is fully visible ending in a mix of hair and fabric. She is in front of an outdoor wooden wall with some wooden boards resting on the wall.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A black and white photo of Persimmon Blackbridge looking into the camera, with a neutral look and a mouth closed, holding a burnt barbie doll head on a stick slightly in front of her face. She is wearing a crocheted hat, a dark jean jacket and rounded wayfarer glasses. The background is an out of focus lawn.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A black and white photo of Persimmon Blackbridge staring into the camera with teeth slightly showing from mouth, holding a burnt barbie doll head on a stick slightly in front of her face. She is wearing a crocheted hat and a dark jean jacket. The background is an out of focus lawn.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge wearing a respirator mask. She is wearing a green crocheted hat, a dark blue knit jacket. Her workshop is out of focus in the background.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge wearing a respirator mask. She is wearing a green crocheted hat, a dark blue knit jacket. Her workshop is out of focus in the background.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge wearing a respirator mask. She is wearing a green crocheted hat, a dark blue knit jacket. Her workshop is out of focus in the background.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Image description: A colour photo of Persimmon Blackbridge wearing a respirator mask. She is wearing a green crocheted hat, a dark blue knit jacket. Her workshop is out of focus in the background.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.
Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background. Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black. Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible. Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric. Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus. Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape. Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up.
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible. Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.

Artwork description: An image with 8 photos surrounded by a lilac coloured background.



Image 1: A person wearing a clown costume with sherbet (purple, orange and multiple shades of pink) polka dot and lilac fabric posing while walking in a downtown alleyway in front of a white gate.
 3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The faces are lilac felted fabric, a black button for each pair of eyes. The eyes each are surrounded by 4 petal shapes. All shapes in pink or orange with outlines in the opposite colour. The clown face with very pointy hat and diamond nose is at the top of the costume. A second clown face with heart shaped nose is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head and an upside down heart shaped nose is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible.



Image 2: The person in a version of the clown costume with one arm up and one leg up against a yellow mural wall.
The clown head with 3 round shapes above and on either side of their head is at the top of the costume. A clown with a two prong jester hat is in the stomach area of the costume.
 Black fabric is visible between the lilac costume and the shiny gathered tubes of fabric on either leg.
The yellow mural wall has thin triangle slices painted in yellow, orange, white and blue. A blue metal fence is visible above the yellow wall. To the right side of the wall and costumed person is night time black.



Image 3: All four versions of the clown heads with lilac heart shaped faces and sherbet polka dot fabric are on the street of a downtown alley, from left to right: the clown face with heart shaped nose/mouth and jester hat head is half visible.
The face with upside down heart shaped nose, wearing a silver ruff collar and 3 ball shapes in polka dot fabric surrounding their head.
The closest clown in the image has a 3 clover nose and a rectangular head with extra pointy corners. 
The clown face with diamond nose and very tall pointy hat to the very right is slightly visible in the picture.
The background has cement grey and white walls with some graffiti. Caution yellow and black stripe poles are also visible.



Image 4: The person in the sherbet polkadot costume has the clown with the 3 clover nose on top of the costume. They are crouching down in front of the 3 other felted lilac face clowns with polka dot fabric. Hand stitched thread in purple is visible on seams of the sherbet polka dot fabric.



Image 5: A close up of the clown with upside down heart shaped nose and 3 round ball shapes of fabric around their head. The details of the felted heart shape head in lilac include the mismatched button eyes, one textured and stretched looking. The petal shapes around the eyes are pink outlined in orange. The upside down heart is orange surrounded by pink The silver ruff collar is half visible.
The background is a street out of focus.



Image 6: The clown with the pointy tall hat and diamond nose is held in front of an orange wall by the giant hand glove of the person in the costume. The clown’s torso is surrounded by polkadot fabric with a cape shape.



Image 7: A person wearing a version of the sherbet polka dot and lilac clown costume posing in a downtown alleyway with one leg up. 
3 clown faces are attached to this costume. The clown face with very pointy hat is at the top of the costume. A second clown face is off to the right side of the person’s torso. The third clown with 3 round shapes on head is centred in the stomach area of the costume.
The person is posing with the extra long pair of lilac arms open wide, extra limb fabric draping down, with two giant handmade glove hands in a shiny fabric at the bottom of each arm. The person’s legs are covered in shiny fabric that’s gathered as pant legs. Black shoes are visible.



Image 8: Second image in the centre: A full body length of someone wearing a handmade clown costume with sherbet polka dot fabric and long limbs of shiny lilac purple fabric with shiny silver cuffs between the extensions of the limbs. No part of the person’s skin or hair is visible.
Two clown faces are visible. One around the head of the costume, the other around the stomach. Both faces are heart shaped lilac fabric with a pair of black button eyes and 4 petals around each eye. Below the eyes are an upside down heart on the top face, a diamond shape on the bottom face. All shapes are orange and pink. The top of the costume and upper clown face has 3 ball shapes of polka dot fabric on the top and either side of the clown face. Below the clown face is a silver ruff collar. The lower clown face has a very tall pointy hat of polka dot fabric.
The person is wearing black pants and shiny silver fabric around their feet, as shoes.
The background is a purple mural wall with some rectangular shapes in purple, red, pink and turquoise.


Funny Business

ivy hazard

(Click to read more about the artist)

Image Description:

‍

Artist Statement:

For my interpretation, I was really moved by the connective thread that clowns played in the interview. One clown has the power to move the energy in a room, for the sake of fun or distraction. If there is more than one clown? A community of them? That has the power to make some big changes. I wanted to create a costume that shows off that collective energy: a cloud of bubbly laughter skipping down the streets.

Research for this piece looked like learning more about the history of clowns, and how their power has been used for entertainment, revolution and oppression. One big tool of clown oppression included minstrel shows & various cultural festivals that have used blackface to create caricatures for public mockery. I was serious in my responsibility of using clown imagery as a white person: I avoided using exaggerated features & focused on drawing more from the clowns like the pierrot & harlequins with a modern club kid twist. I made lots of sketches of different clowns & asked Mariya to pick which felt best. We ended up going for the ‘group of clown ghosts’ look, which I just love.

Mariya’s interview explores how the idea of ‘community’ can be this complicated moving target that means something different to everyone. One relationship between just two people needs regular adjustment & compromise. As relationship numbers start to grow and the idea of a community becomes more real, things get more complicated. We can be lost between the cracks, and hierarchies show up between those who were just friends before. Each of our journeys through the groups we know is going to take some serious work of drawing our own moral compass, which can go through some pretty big changes over time, as Mariya shows us.

I think disabled folks can understand how things get tricky on a pretty personal level. It’s difficult to find home in institutions that let go of our needs for the sake of convenience. The further away we get from being seen as an individual, the harder it can be to connect. Things are much more possible when we get to know others personally, and can share our specific experiences.

This people power was something Mariya really wanted to see come through in the piece, so I made a costume with four clown figures that could be attached and taken off easily. We got pictures of different combinations of two, three, or all four clowns & showed them bouncing around with each other. It’s all a bit of a reminder that we can make things work with the people we trust, even if it gets mixed up a bit.

Another layer on top of this was the ways I asked for help. Mariya and q were very helpful in having regular conversations with. I worked with Lourdes Hugo, a photographer & friend who I laugh a lot with. My partner was able to get a ride for us to pick up supplies with. I asked their opinion on what kind of fabric felt the most clown-y, which is how we ended up with the sherbet polka dot look we got. I was able to create my work at home, where everyone makes a big meal for each other once a week. I drew visual inspiration from the Bizarre & Ballroom circles I walk through.

This work wouldn’t have been possible without the communities I have in my life, and by working with them—as well as taking a lot of breaks—I was able to make something that represents the joy we generate for each other.

Resource: Clowns Are Still R*cist | How Blackface Minstrelsy Shaped The American Circus by Dainty Funk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLEpTOT6cJA (Link content note: blinking images)

Artwork Information:

Title:
Funny Business

Artist:
ivy hazard

Created in Response to Interview by:
Mariya Lepp

(Click here for the full interview page)

Date:

Type:

Format:
Photos

Collection:
Artworks in Response 2022-2023
The Disability Arts & Activism Archive plans to take place across the lands that are colonially known as British Columbia —which encompasses the homelands of over 200 distinct Indigenous nations and cultures, with over 30 different languages and 90 unique dialects spoken across those homelands.
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Disability Arts &
Activism Archive

Disability Arts and Activism Archive logo: A grey capital letter D with three capital letter A’s stacked inside. Each A is stacked from smallest to largest behind each other. The smallest A at the front is yellow, the second A in the middle is blue, the third largest A is green. Behind the semi-circular D is a left-pointing shadow in the shape and colours of the stacked A letters. Designed by Valen Onstine and Taz Soleil
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2023 Disability Arts & Activism Archive