behind the scenes
HOLLYWOODeast
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Mardi Gras Indian costumes
represent ceremonial dress, or
suits. Each life-sized suit weighs
between 50 to 100 pounds. The
filming of Mardi Gras Indian
scenes were generally scheduled
over the course of an entire day
or two by themselves because
dressing each of the cast mem-bers
required 30 to 45 minutes.
Season two’s Spy Boy “In the
Cards Suit,” far left, symbolizes
the future of the Guardians of
the Flame tribe, which Wilson
depicted in beaded animal spirit
icons on which he says he medi-tates
daily.
The Big Chief’s suit, center,
“What Divides Also Brings
Together,” illustrates the post-
Katrina floodwaters
that unite
father and son, the government
and the people, and African
and Native American worlds.
The beaded apron panel alone
was built in phases during a
four and a half month period.
The Wild Man suit features
bulls in headlock and blood
tipped horns on its headdress.
In rank, the Wild Man marches
closest to the Big Chief during
Mardi Gras parades.
Now his one-man show at the Cameron Art Museum has created a reunion for Wilson who reconnected to
his Wilmington show biz roots through “Well Suited.”
“If this was here and I wasn’t from Wilmington, I seriously doubt the film community would have time, or
have come to see a costume exhibit. But because I’m from Wilmington and I started here and I know a lot of
people I haven’t seen in years, I think that sparked an interest about a reunion of sorts,” he says.
About 50 from the local film industry showed up the night of his exhibit opening in May and a dozen more
for his gallery talk in June.
“They’re not costume designers, they’re just people that knew me. They’re supporting the fact that I’m one of them
that started here. In a strange way I started here, I’ve been away, and I’m bringing something back home,” he says.
With local documentary filmmaker Francine DeCoursey, Wilson says he talked about the importance of film
in his life, film as an art form in the community now connected to the museum.
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