Never Apart benefits from the Wiggle phenomenon
The sun was out, the air was balmy (at last) and I was on my way to a local hair emporium to try on wigs in a variety of lengths, styles and hues, the more outrageous the better. I finally settled on an electric red bob that brought back fond memories of Viv in the epic Cinderella flick Pretty Woman. Who knows, maybe I too would have a Prince Gere in my near future? ;) Admittedly though, the outta-the-comfort zone purchase was not manbased. Rather … it was WIGGLEbased!
Just what, you’re wondering, does that mean? As I learned on the big night, experiencing Wiggle for the first time, it means a lot.
Founded 22 years ago in Windsor, Ont., by an incredibly creative, make-it-happen Michael Venus, the brain behind multimedia artist collective House of Venus (a launch pad for numerous up-and-coming artists’ careers), Wiggle is an annual wearable art and performance runway spectacular that invites artists and designers (and anyone with a yen for fun and fabulous) to mastermind fantasy wigs and headpieces that are then worn as part of an avant-garde variety spectacle celebrating all things performance, and, yes, wig!
Though the now global phenomenon has enjoyed home bases in Detroit, Vancouver and the aforementioned Windsor, attracting a high voltage and diverse crowd throughout, including Michael Stipe of R.E.M, Blondie’s Deborah Harry, and some of the world’s leading Drag royals like Wigstock’s the Lady Bunny, Miss Guy of the Toilet Boys and Perfidia of Patricia Fields fame, it currently calls Montreal home (lucky lucky us!).
And while I have not had the pleasure of attending the earlier editions, I can safely say that I now get the phenomenon! In fact, my head was on a swivel for hours, in absolute awe of the extraordinary creations paraded around me, a veritable feast for the eyes, heck all the senses, that were outdone only by the astonishingly good singing, dancing, cat-walking and other ingenious performances that punctuated the festivities.
Could there possibly be a highlight … among so many highlights?
The answer is a resounding YESSSS noties!!! It came in the form of the much-anticipated host/featured performer of the evening, groundbreaking and gifted actress-dancer-performer-author-activist and all-out amazing Candis Cayne, the beyond inspiring, unstoppable first transgender actress to have recurring prime-time roles on hits like Dirty Sexy Money, not to mention her recent beloved turn on I am Cait, where she stole many a scene with her one-of-akind humour and charisma.
Well, once the scintillating star took centre stage (proudly introduced by a wiggled-out-in-the-best-way moi), the crowd was almost uncontainable, chanting her name at a feverish pitch that only intensified with every delicious high kick, energetic mane toss, super spin and yes, wonder wiggle, as only Candis can.
Guests like famous fashion reporter Glen Baxter; superagent Barry Garber; real estate aficionado, Cominar’s Mark Santoianni; restaurateur extraordinaire, Le Richmond’s Luc Laroche; megastylist Cary Tauben; and homegrown entertainment personality Shira Lazar with YouTube sensation BF Bart Baker were gobsmacked.
As for non-profit Never Apart, new home and beneficiary of Wiggle, the team — including inhouse PR pro Bradley Grill (also of Lightspeed) — was thrilled with the record-breaking revenue the official annual fundraiser generated. Currently celebrating its two-year anniversary, Never Apart is a local non-profit organization determined to create social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Established by visionary tech CEO/creator of Lightspeed and generous patron of the arts, Dax Dasilva, the centre features 12,000 square feet of creative space offering seasonal art exhibitions, permanent installations, live music events, artist talks and film screenings.