custom illustrated portraits of friends or strangers using a thin black line, prisma markers & exploration

7.5'x8' Art Nouveau inspired multi-dimensional tapestry created out of fabric, illustrated mercreatures, sculpted coral & ceramic buttons.

In 2014 we were invited to participate in the world's first 'Gay Wax Museum' installation which would take place at Austin Texas's OUTsider festival in February 2015. For this installation we created a lifesize diorama of Charmion: a late 1800's stongwoman & trapeze artist. We created our installation out of gatorboard, fabric, paint, research & trim. To make our installation more interactive, we created a free postcard souvenir with information about this innovative performer & activist

When we were invited to participate in Artscape 2015: “Harbor High Port (of Call) & Other Phenomenades” we had the ambitious idea to create a giant toy theatre multi-Dimensional interactive installation performance tent.
Our interpretation of the theme, rising waters of the inner harbor meet Station North, was to create a tent that reflected vintage colors & movement of water. For this, we sewed over 1,000 scales/petals/flaps, as well as a tent 'big top' to encompass the installation experience.
Once our installation was completed, we invited several local & regional performers with talents ranging from singer/songwriter to jumprope artist, tap dancer & film makers to showcase their talents at out pop-up stage.
In addition to these incredible talents who included K Froom, Be Steadwell, The dandy Vagabonds and more, we also premiered our film, 'Neptune's Bloom' which told the story of jellyfish blooming out of the ocean, up through Baltimore's inner harbor all the way into Station North. ( more information of this film can be seen above)
Intermittently, we also invited the festival attendees to interact with our installation by embodying one of said jellyfish costumes, parade in and around our interpreted water installation, take a photo, as well as take a free souvenir postcard of their 'Neptune's Bloom' experience.

When we were invited to participate in Artscape 2015: “Harbor High Port (of Call) & Other Phenomenades” we had the ambitious idea to create a film with an original soundscape to premier at our interactive, giant toy theatre performance tent.
The theme of Artscape was the rising waters of the inner harbor meet Station North; our interpretation of this was to create 5 jellyfish costumes, and film them coming out of the ocean, arriving in Baltimore's inner harbor, and eventually blooming throughout our Charm City. To create this, we filmed on location at Coney Island's Mermaid Parade, Ocean City beach & Assateague Beach, we also filmed at various Baltimore locations such as AVAM, the Whale wall, the inner harbor and in Station North. In addition to live action performances, we also intertwined our film, 'Neptune's Bloom' with stop motion animation of sculpted creatures we created. This section includes stills from our film, as well as our film.

In the Spring of 2014 a piece of 1927 ephemera titled, 'The Planet Number' was found at a flea market. This photo, of group of ornately costumed performers inspired us to dream up what this Planet Number would look like illustrated. These are but a few of the plume & ruffled women re-imagined by xander dumas in fine black line illustration with prisma marker

The Dandy Vagabond Performative Adventures Continue

the dandy vagabonds are a Baltimore based pair of curious, playful artists who thrive on telling stories of whimsy, adventure, insight & balance through performance art, circus arts, fiber arts, the tactile & the ephemeral.

We have performed throughout Baltimore, the Northeast, as well as on tour since 2011. Here are a few selected stills from some of our performances

inspired by the pull & swell of the cosmic voyage, we have collaborated to create planets & moon tapestries. This ongoing project will continue until all of our solar system's planets & moons have been created

‘Ruby Moon: A Parade of Vintage Elegance’, is an ongoing project showcasing innovative female performers who have inspired us, xander dumas & elliot mittens, The Dandy Vagabonds, as artists. The performers represented here have inspired us through their strength, grace, humor, brilliance, brass, costumes, confidence & courage. This installation focuses on dancers & ‘circus artists’ from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, but when fully realized it will extend deeper into history & represent more genres of performance. As this project continues we intend to better represent female performers who existed in the broader spectrums of gender expression, body size, race & cultures

This ongoing project was showcased in a gallery exhibit at Alchemy of Art June 2014