Machine Dazzle at LongHouse Reserve

LongHouse Reserve will host artist Machine Dazzle for a Larsen Salon Series talk on Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m.

A self-described artist trapped in the role of costume designer, Machine Dazzle creates elaborate designs that transform the most ordinary objects into dynamic displays that transcend the human imagination. He has been dazzling stages via costumes, sets, and performance since his arrival in New York in 1994. He has collaborated with artists Julie Atlas Muz, Big Art Group, Justin Vivian Bond, Taylor Mac, Chris Tanner, Soomi Kim, Pig Iron Theater, Bombay Rickey and has designed projects for Opera Philadelphia and Spiegelworld.

These opulent displays of wearable art have been featured at the Museum of Art and Design for the artist’s first solo exhibition “Queer Maximalism x Machine Dazzle” where clips of his work in Taylor Mac’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated “A 24-Decade History of Popular Music” were showcased as well. His work has also been on view at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and he contributed to memorable camp-themed looks for Diane von Furstenberg and Cara Delevingne at the 2019 Met Gala. His work for “The Hang” was recognized with a 2022 Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Costumes for a Musical.

Machine Dazzle was born Matthew Flower in 1972. The name Machine Dazzle came from dancing in costume at a New York City club as a Dazzle Dancer. A friend referred to him as a dancing machine, which quickly morphed into Machine Dazzle. Machine’s costumes began to catch the attention of other club kids, and he began taking commissions from drag queens and dancers. He has collaborated extensively with Taylor Mac. Machine is known for utilizing found objects into his costume work. Sourcing items like ping pong balls, slinkies, soup cans, rubber hotdogs and more, to deepen the work’s narrative intent.

Tickets are $35 ($25 members) at longhouse.org. LongHouse Reserve is at 133 Hands Creek Road in East Hampton.