Creative Black/Tickets now online!

{tim burton fashion photographed by tim walker via harpers bazaar}

{tim burton fashion photographed by tim walker via harpers bazaar and chic dash}

{image via hauntstyle posted by model tara renee}

{image by adriana gerasimova via behance}

From your favorite little black dress to full on Tim Burton haute macabre, Cirque Du Noir is a night of magic for all! Last year's costumes were amazing. We had "Dia De La Muerte" winner, Todd Rawley, Tina Zlody as the "Golden Woodland Nymph", as the first and second place winners. Click here if you want to sneak a peek at the 2009 Cirque Fashion captured by Louie Despres. Todd walked away with two tickets for the men's semi finals at the US Open, sponsored by USTA New England via the wonderful Jeff Waters. Tina earned an Adventure pass donated by Vertical World Adventures. I wonder if she has gotten vertical yet?

Tickets are now available online via www.cirquedunoir.org or directly at eventbrite.com and there will be a kickin' prize for orders placed before the 17th of October, so stay tuned! If you can't make it out and you would still like to donate, you can go directly to the WCFB website. We already have one donation of a ticket for someone that can't attend. Thank you to that anonymous donor! This is what it's all about! Love it!

Artists, if you would like to contribute to the art auction, contact me as soon as possible. I would like to get everyones bio/donation image up on the website for exposure. The WOW factor of the donation is exceptional so I would love everyone to see the goods prior to the event! Previous artists are here. Check out their work. Shoot me or Andreea an email if you are interested.

Sponsors, if you are interested in supporting Cirque Du Noir, please drop a line. I would like to include all sponsors on a banner, the website and chat you up all over the place, so connect and we can make this year incredible! Previous sponsors are here. I would like to give huge thanks to all of you again for your contributions to local art, music and celebrations here in Worcester.

Cirque Du Noir Inspiration

{image via vogue italia and fotografiademoda}

{image via vogue italia and tom and lorenzo}

{image of prada via vogue italia and tom and lorenzo}

{image of mcqueen via vogue italia and tom and lorenzo}

Half the reason Cirque Du Noir came to be was my love for fashion, black clothing and celebrations. Until the event I will be posting images for inspiration here on Festival Creative. The event is special in the way that although it is all black attire and assuming everyone has something black, the space gets filled with either costumes or elegant people rocking their black. Another wonderful thing about the event is that it attracts a very diverse crowd to come and either people watch or indulge in the fascination of the live art fusion, the delicious food, or the ethereal music. Sounds of an elegant deep violin and world rhythms help to invigorate curious appetites. If you have not attended before, I have to say, it is a very different kind of event for Worcester.

Taking the talents of local artists and watching them create amazing works of art in front of you is intimate and really fascinating. Watching their faces, the nuance of how they sketch and watching them complete each piece is pretty incredible. All this while listening to really great music. The different groups that come together all for a night of celebrating together is what energized me and prompted me to really think outside the box and get this started. My house was too small to continue on there.

That really motivated me was the fact that at almost 40 years old, I had been waiting for things like this to happen in Worcester. I wanted to go out in the city and experience something artistic, edgy, captivating that transcended all the barriers. Worcester seems to have pockets of people, places and things. In my mind I wanted to intrigue people...to come out and give them something that would highlight what Worcester has to offer. Since my circle is full of creatives, I really wanted to celebrate the incredible artistic talents here in town. I also did not belong to any artists groups, I was not involved myself in any of the artistic communities here in town. My fault. Without knowing much about anything in event planning and execution, I set out to find out that there were many people willing to make it happen. Especially, Andreea Waters of Kai and Gipsy, a creative herself that could really see where I was going with Cirque Du Noir, and jumped in right away. She is my partner in crime on this. Together we spin crazy ideas into reality. I love when that happens.

That was 3 years ago. Today we look forward to working hard to bring another, bigger more magical event to Worcester. If you think it's not for you, think again. This may be just what you have been waiting for! Museum goers, art admirers, art buyers, voyeurs, lovers, foodies, music lovers, curious, adventurous, zombies, politicians, teachers, lovers of fun...if you want to take a night to experience art and music in a new way, treat yourself to this elegant evening of eye candy, yummy food, creative people, and a fabulous night out in town.

The bonus? All proceeds go to the Worcester County Food Bank, just in time to feed so many Worcester families for the holidays. Tickets will be up online soon. They will be $25 in advance and the same at the door.

Big thanks today to:

Checkerboard Ltd. (the company I design for) in advance for the wonderful invitations they are about to print.

Niche Hospitality and the staff at The Citizen/Speakeasy for their incredible and accomodating support.

Cathy Walsh from Sprout, who always brings the fun on!

I also want to thank in advance the artists and musicians who make the event really super cool. Worcester is overflowing with outrageous talent. Come see what they can do!

Anyone new artists would like to be a part of the art auction, please contact me pronto! If anyone would like to donate a piece of art, please include a little bio piece with your donation, so our curator can tell the buyers about you and your work.

You can reach me at mlhiggs2{at}yahoo.com.

Expose yourself...

Take a peek... {click}

Save the Date for Cirque Du Noir!

Cirque Du Noir was inspired by the prolific and creative artists and musicians in my community. Actually my Halloween party was outgrowing my house and the company I keep is pretty darn creative, so I thought I might bring it all together to make some magic happen, not just for us, but for the Worcester community. The holidays were approaching, so I wondered how all of this could make a difference.

My idea was to bring art, music, and creative black attire together to raise money for the Worcester County Foodbank. In other words, a really cool upscale Halloween party with live art fusion and an art auction, all happening while listening to amazing music. Cirque is an exciting and unique event for Worcester. The crowd is diverse, the vibe is amazing. The music by Esthema in years past has really set the tone for the event. The international sounds of their music are intoxicating and ethereal. We have a lot of new things in store, including a new venue, The Citizen and the Speakeasy located right behind. The atrium area is a wonderful room and we are exciting to be working with Niche Hospitality for the 3rd year!

Keep checking back for incredible inspiration for your black attire challenges and more information, as we announce the artists and the music in the next few weeks. Get your black on! Costumes are optional, but attire is black. There are amazing prizes for the costumes for creativity, macabre, uniqueness & popularity. We can't wait for a magical night filled with incredible talent to celebrate giving. Worcester is a pretty cool place to be these days.

Cirque Du Noir III . 2010

{image via we love it, sourced at hautemacabre.com}

Start thinking of what you will be wearing Worcester for...
Cirque Du Noir III
2010
October 24th

Listen to Your Inner Queen

{image via ffffound}

Hipstmatic Images

{my littlest girl having a quick sink before bed. yay summertime!}

I love this app for the iphone. Fun 70's style images today. This one is taken with John S lens and Ina's 69 film and a standard flash. Get the app, have some fun!

Transylvanian adventures

{dr. gonzo's garlic mash kept the evil at bay at bran castle. thank you stu for the mash!}

{a trabant, seen often, this one in rasnov}

{a wall in sanpetru}

{sunshine at dusk in sanpetru}

Yesterday's trip to Bran was made more fun with a jar of Dr. Gonzo's Garlicmash. We took the jar from Worcester, Massachusetts where it was made to Brasov, Romania. One of the only gifty things we brought that were actually conceived in Worcester. Vlad's dad is very picky about where things are made and so we thought it would be a great idea to introduce some condiments from the city we are from. The Drunk Stunt Mustard went over well, but the Garlicmash pulled ahead, keeping the evil spirits away at Bran.

Spirits are alive and well all over. The moment we arrived, Vlad's Dad put a red string on our little one. The red string, a talisman is a tradition here for children that keeps the child safe from the evil thoughts and intentions of people that look at them. The tradition is probably derived from the Kaballah, where the seven knots in the red string when tied to the left hand can ward off the evil eye. Like Madonna, my little lady is sporting a red string that she will wear until it falls off, as she did on our last visit as well. I think it's especially important to a grandfather when he thinks his grandaughter is the cutest thing on earth and that people would want to harm her because of the cuteness. I am not sure if it's contemptuous to have the string on, but I do think its sweet that she wears the string and respects that her "Ticu" gave it to her. Usually bracelets don't last long on the wrist of this little spitfire.

Last evening I was invited to visit a tarot reader named Ovidiu. I was promised that he would only tell me the good things in my future. Gypsies, red strings and people staring at you in the eye, making your pulse flutter makes me a little unsettled about Tarot. Yesterday, outside of Bran as we went to the car, a woman sitting in the adjacent car stared at Soleil, blankly, without blinking or turning away when I looked at her. I turned and looked back again and she was still staring at my little red stringer inside the car! Romanian women are strikingly beautiful. In fact sometimes I can't believe there are so many really beautiful ones in one place. This woman had really light blue eyes and they pierced me to the core as she would not take here eyes away or blink for that matter. Many moments passed and I was really happy for the little red string, driving away feeling a little protected. I seriously believe in higher powers, intuition, and mumbo jumbo. I do. I do. Thank goodness for red strings and garlicmash.

We never made it up to the lake yesterday, as Soleil got sick with a stomach bug. This of course was because prior to the red string, people looked at her at the airport. This deduction was translated to me by Vlad from his father, who is a doctor, in fact. I love the absolute belief that people have so much power to affect the world. I think I will use this for good. As of this morning, both of Vlad's parents are also in a bad way, and so with three down, we have decided to stay around the house while everyone is sleeping. We have brought the spell into the house and I kind of feel bad. Two espressos down and I feel like I could type all afternoon. With the soupa on the stove, the apa minerala and the extract of fig flower, anise broth and a little camomile chai...the family will be well soon. "Red strings for all," I say. I am happy to be blogging a little, but feel like I am missing an adventure.

By the way, as a side note, Romanian radio is much like home, they play the same 20 songs over and over. If I hear Shakira's Gypsy one more time...Doamne, Doamne capu meu! It will be the song that reminds me of this trip, I know. Looking forward to a better evening for those of us that have been up all night fighting the belly beast.

Oh, I scored a sweet pair of shoes yesterday on Republicii in Brasov. The dollar is up so shopping is more fun that it was in 2008! 148 lei is not so bad.