Photo credit Michelle Girardello

Resident artists and faculty at Chautauqua School of Art came together to put on a drag show, the first ever held in the institution's history.

As one of the emcees of the show, I embodied an evolving character whose costume changes throughout the show reflected internal breakthroughs.

The Plate Balancer wears a froofy pillow sham dress and balances a vessel on her head.

At a pivotal moment, suddenly enlightened to her situation, she smashes the vessel on the ground.

Miss Cornucopia, a being of plenty, is thus born.

Miss Cornucopia's aging transforms her into the Winged Angel, who tends toward indulgence in emotional ups and downs.