The COR of Anni Roc

It’s been a a long creative journey that started 5 years ago that has culminated into this 2 day excursion. I was sewing the “Summer Coat” version in the 11th hour and still dealing with touch ups and maintenance. As a recovering perfectionist, the suit is not done to my taste but it is getting better and better in design. Would encounter some mishaps and then solutions.

After the Radiohead album, Hail to the Thief, came out it solidified my love for their music. My friends have exposed me to their music before but I was more of a casual listener. Not anymore. Was going through one of the hardest times of my life and somehow I got really hooked and helped me cope. Later that year I thought that it would be awesome to dress up as the Radiohead bear. Also thought that it would also help me be creative again after a lot of my art work was destroyed in a big fire that year.

The idea was to create a costume that was flat like a paper doll, not 3-D. Always meant to try every Halloween but school, work, and life happens. It was more difficult to create than I anticipated and so I didn’t finish in 2003. Got the mask done in 2005 but not the body (was working on a Harvey Birdman costume too – remained unfinished), was so upset I didn’t attend my roommates’ Halloween party. Finally in 2007 I worked on the body and wore it on Halloween parties, though it wasn’t as good as I’d like it to be. Was still sewing the body even when my roommate’s party was getting started. Wore it to school for a contest and got 2nd place. Mentioned it briefly as a comment in stereogum. Wasn’t prepared to display it because it looked pretty shoddy by my standards. I’m still finding some problems with it so it’s always a work in progress.

Being that the body was really shoddy from last year, had to reconstruct it again and changed some things. I planned on working on it late April right after the Schnauss TShirt Hack and Das Kraftwerkkleid but lots of crappy things happened in April for my friends and I. Got sick and couldn’t start until May 1. Then it was a mad dash to go south ASAP.

My friends could not come with me due to drama or work so I had an empty seat next to me while my other friends were seated in a different section. The turnpike was jammed at the exit so we were sitting there for about an hour as minutes pass by enough that we missed the opening band and were heading towards to venue as Radiohead’s music played in the distance. Told my friends to go ahead without me because I was considering reselling the ticket because it was a good section but the show already started so there was no point. Didn’t want to deal with it and don’t want to give the scalpers the satisfaction. One guy who seemed drunk bemoaned something to me as I entered the gates but whatever the show is on. But at the entrance I was stopped because of my mask. The security said it was too big and suspicious I think and I was crestfallen and just stood there stunned at this ridiculous and unexpected moment. The manager came over and I tried to explain that all it is is just plastic and fabrics and thread, he told me not to wear it during the show – of course not I won’t. Despite the chaos, I really liked the show. The pics I shot were not so great but eh, there’s so many people taking them anyway and they’ll be posted soon enough probably.

After the show was going to be another matter. Miss Monster gave me advice on what will happen due to her experiences but I still had no idea how bad it could be. I don’t mind at all of people taking pictures and I’m happy to oblige to display my work. The only problem is I was starting to get groped and molested WHICH IS NOT FUCKING COOL. I’ll give out hugs for the pic if nicely asked but please don’t fucking touch my chest or butt. Miss Monster warned me about the groping and told me to have a friend watch my back (and chest and butt) but at the time I was alone. Because of what happened I started to have a very defensive pose were I was protecting my chest from further assault so my arm was always in front now. I yelled a couple times when it was getting uncomfortable and rowdy, thankfully my friends found me. Hence we faced more strange people together. One guy asked me, “Who are you supposed to be?” while another woman seemed to follow us and so I had to remove my outfit as we headed for the car.

In the chaos I asked a guy to take a picture of me and my friends and gave him my card but I haven’t heard from him and felt bad that I forgot that I had my own camera but wasn’t thinking nor focused during the time obviously. So who ever was that guy who took a picture of this couple and me, PLEASE email the picture, we’d greatly appreciate it. It’s a guy with a yellow shirt and his girlfriend with long hair. Thank you.

To be continued…