Vote for me!! I’m the third mannequin shown and the 19th Business (2nd Fitz’s entry)

http://www.mannequinsproject.com/vote-now.html

And if you have a big household, apparently you can vote up to 10 times per IP address….just sayin!

Fitz’s is magic.

Hear me out. It’s obvious once you think about it.

Fitz’s opened in 1947 as a drive-in hamburger stand serving their signature root beer. Going there was an experience crafted from local pride and post war excitement of young people building new lives. I heard about “Good Ole Fitz’s” quite a bit from my grandparents growing up, but sadly, it was in the past. See, Fitz’s closed in 1976, leaving a hole in the heart of our city.

But then in 1993, when I was a young teen just starting to be more independent, Fitz’s appeared! Like a miracle, it materialized in the Delmar Loop, my standard hang out place for all of middle and high school. Suddenly, I could experience “Good Ole Fitz’s” too and feel a bit of the supposed magic.

And magic it was. I remember so many moments that couldn’t have happened without it…when Mike dunked his fry into ketchup and *finally* told Kiona that he LIKE liked her after years of dreaming…grabbing a float after getting laid off, watching strangers move through the Loop and realizing my life could go a different direction, one that might actually make me happy …the clink of glass bottles after my daughter’s soccer game which turned a neighborhood victory into something that felt Olympic.

-Magic-

Fitz’s is the thing that turns an ordinary day into something special. That makes a meal a celebration. That connects generations living different lives in a shared city full of grit and love. It’s pure magic.

When I found out I was partnering with Fitz’s for the 17th Annual Mannequin Project, I was thrilled. I knew that I had to create The Mage Of Fitz’s.

We see the mage, standing tall, conjuring root beer from the ether. She is war worn but not weary. Maybe she’s fighting the battle that has kept Fitz’s using cane sugar. Maybe she’s the reason the burgers have that great char. Maybe she’s just in charge of vibes. We may never know.

I wanted to challenge myself with this project.

The Mannequin Project is all about sustainability, so I paired bottle caps from Fitz’s with mostly litter. I like the idea that her magic extends to beautify our city. Her clothing is made from plastic grocery bags, fused and painted to resemble worn painted leather (with a peek a boo logo liner).

“Splashes” are broken picture frame acrylic that I thermoformed and shaped into sculptural elements. 

The root beer orbs and vortex are fused/thermoformed clear bags, wrappers, and film, infused with rust and mica for color. The vortex is modeled after glasswork, specifically a reimagined blend of the iridescent sheen of vintage carnival glass and the fluid, organic energy of Chihuly glass structures. These are objects that I’ve always felt were a bit magic in their own right.

I welded together two elevator springs to create the spiral that spawns the vortex. They were being discarded after a maintenance job.

After a thorough cleaning and painting, a discarded plumbing pipe became her drinking straw staff.

Aluminum scraps were shaped to suggest a head but allow her the anonymity she requires to work.

Finally, cracked solar garden lights will illuminate the vortex and root beer orbs at night, her solar panel necklace charging them by day.

I also wanted to challenge myself to make an outfit, not a sculpture of an outfit. So all clothing (cloak, bustier, corset, skirt, boots, and bracelet) are soft, functional items with clasps, ties, buttons, etc and could be worn if you were her size.

Thank you so much to Figure 8 Designs and Fitz’s for hosting this event and letting me be a part of the magic!