Article: Karl Xtravaganza
One night when you are pumping on the dance floor and you suddenly wonder if there is an alien invasion… don’t panic, we’re not under attack and it’s not your recreational chemicals kicking in…likely you are witnessing one of the creations of G Xtravaganza Bizarre. A professional costume designer and event decorator by day, nightly metamorphoses transform G into any number of his alter egos. Since moving to New York City in 2005, G has developed a nightlife cult following who look forward to witnessing each of his unique assemblages.
G grew up in a single traffic light town in ruralArizonawhere he learned early on that if he wanted to have some glamour in his life, he was going to have to create it himself. After moving for a short time toLos Angeles, G eventually made his way east toGotham. “I love the freedom to allow my imagination to run wild and the people ofNew Yorkreally respond to that sense of creative independence. New Yorkers are a tough bunch and it takes a lot to get a rise out of them, which really helps to push the limits of my artistry.” he explains.
His nightly apparitions eventually caught the eye of some members of the House of Xtravaganza, who instantly recognized the unique talent and ballroom potential of his over-the-top costumes. “I knew about the balls from watching ‘Paris Is Burning’ but thought they were mostly about drag, realness and voguing. I didn’t know about that ‘Bizarre’ was an important element within the ballroom community.” House members began taking G to balls where he saw for himself that the anything-goes atmosphere of the ballrooms would provide the perfect setting for his most extreme ensembles. “Before the balls” he explains, “I was limited because I had to be able to pump all night on the dance floor in an outfit – getting in and out of taxis and stuff. However the balls removed all restrictions – I could do ANYTHING – totally out-of-the-box. Six foot tall wig – no problem, thirty foot long cape – looks great on the runway, shoulder pads four feet wide… make them bigger! The options were limitless – total freedom.” Each costume is a mash-up remix of references and inspirations as diverse as circus acts, the French revolution, children’s toys and 1950s b-movie monsters.
However it is not all fun and games and a significant amount of work goes into each of G’s costumes. “Planning is key – whether for a night out at the club or for a ball the costumes have to be on-point – no room or tolerance for messiness. How is the outfit going to move, how will the various parts come together, what kind of arrival do I want give…?” Several weeks of work can go into each look, and for a major ball there can be up to four different ensembles for a single evening. All that work has paid-off and the ballroom community has acknowledged G’s artistry with numerous grand prizes. As G expresses, “The ballrooms are about ‘transformation’ and when you can impress those kids you know you really have something special.”
ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE