One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
"Black Swan" Tutus on Display at MOCA's Rodarte Show
Whether it was the allure of elegant dancers on their tippy-toes, the charms of Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, or the appeal of a disturbing thriller that drew you to the cineplex to see Black Swan, the art of the dance was a big part of the visually dynamic Oscar-nominated film. Part of the world of ballet are its costumes, and the dark-versus-light of the evil and good swans played out on the stage and in the feathers and tulle of the dancing garb.
The costumes, designed by Pasdena-ites Laura and Kate Mulleavy of the line Rodarte, are being prepped for another sort of stage debut right now: Art. The Black Swan tutus will be twirling once again for visitors to take a gander at up close as part of a Rodarte show opening March 4th at MOCA at the Pacific Design Center.
The Mulleavys are self-confessed horror movie fans, and were thrilled to take on the task of layering up the tulle to make the tutus--the pretty that decorates the often un-seen ugliness of the dance world. Next week, visitors to MOCA at the PDC can check out the layers themselves.
“By removing the garments from the figure and creating an installation around them, the focus will be entirely on the dresses and tutus as singular sculptural objects rather than pieces that are reliant on their relationship to the human form,” said Associate Curator Rebecca Morse. “Their inherent narrative qualities will be revealed.”
"Rodarte: States of Matter," runs March 4-June 11.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
