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Sugar Moon

Collaborative duo’s 8th Halloween show at Pint n’ Slice

By Rebecca Stockert

Fort Wayne Reader

2017-10-06

The event that brought collaborative art duo Sugar Moon together may seem unusual, but to anyone who has seen their themed photo shoots, videos, or experienced their annual Halloween Art shows, it makes perfect sense.

About 10 years ago, “Porch Moon” (Daniel Church), a photographer, was asked by a Fort Wayne Derby girl if he’d do some campy “boudoir” shots. Church brought in make-up artist Sugar Guns (Beth Collier); Collier did her own extensive makeup and the makeup of others for Derby bouts. After the first successful photo shoot was completed and the photos made the round with the Derby girls, others began to ask for similar themed shoots.

The duo named themselves Sugar Moon, and has been doing quirky themed artwork ever since. Church explained that they have done nearly every kind of photo shoot imaginable, but now they try to limit their work to more artistic types of themed shoots. If someone comes to them and wants traditional family pictures, senior photos, etc., he will often refer them to other talented photographers. Both Church and Collier are founding members of Fort Wayne’s new collective, HeART of the City, as well.

People who want something fun and different with make up and the possibility of some kind of wild costume and storyline should seek out Sugar Moon. One of their favorite family shoots involved the mom, dressed up as a high-class lady, being robbed by bandits (her husband and kids) in an alley. Collier explained: “What we really like to do is take people out of their element. Themed shoots...make them feel good about themselves; it’s a whole day event with us.”

Every year, Sugar Moon stages a Halloween Art Show. The show is back for its is back for its 8th year, kicking off with an opening reception on Saturday, October 14, 6 pm - 10 pm, upstairs at 816 Pint n’ Slice in downtown Fort Wayne. The exhibit will run through Halloween. Church and Collier’s collaborative art — work that incorporates horror, camp, fantasy and humor — will be alongside their individual, independent work. Be ready to see some epically fantastic and dreadfully beautiful pictures of gorgeous models and terrorizing spectacles.

Viewers to this year’s show will enjoy imagery of creepy Halloween costumes (think weird/vintage photos); a circus-themed tarot card reader, Twin Peaks themed photos; the pair’s first underwater shoot featuring an android (more on that later); and much more. Followers and fans of Sugar Moon can expect a few storyline threads from years past to pick up again this year.

Over 30 works will be on display created by Sugar Moon with additional work made by Church and Collier separately. For the Sugar Moon collaborative pieces, Church does the shooting (photography and video with editing) and Collier is the makeup and costume artist. Collier will have paintings and needlepoint while Church will be trying something new this year: physical media. As a primarily digital design artist, Church decided to try his hand at making analog art for this year’s show. He says as long as it isn’t terrible, it will be in the exhibit.

On Sunday, October 15, 4 - 6 pm, people interested in special effects makeup can participate in a collaboration between Sugar Moon and HeART of the City as they bring sfx makeup artist Brittany Nicole Howard upstairs to the Pint n’ Slice for a workshop. This free sfx makeup education workshop will cover best practices, technique, safety, and a Q&A and demonstration by Howard. Howard went to Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles and is certified in prosthetic makeup.

Sugar Moon will debut their first ever underwater imagery featuring an android this year. Viewers will have to check out the show to see the masterpiece. Collier explained: “We’ve been itching to do it forever and we just never have. It was done in someone’s pool. It turned out really nice.”

Also new this year, the opening event on Saturday, October 14, will feature a living sculpture: the tarot card reader in Sugar Moon’s circus-themed triptych of said tarot card reader. The psychic and model for the artwork will be set up at the
event in the tent just like in the pictures. Event-goers will be able to walk into the tent, as if they are part of the artwork, and have their fortune read for free.

Event-goers should bring their pocket books because art will be for sale. Sugar Moon will have prints for as little as five bucks (throwbacks from last year) and prices go on up from there. Practically anyone can walk away with a little (or big)
piece of artwork from Sugar Moon or the two artists individually.

Sugar Moon 8th Annual Halloween Art Show
Pint n’ Slice (upstairs)
816 Calhoun Street
Opening reception — Saturday, October 14, 6 - 10 pm
SFX make-up workshop with Brittany Nicole Howard — Sunday, October 15 4 – 6 pm