Self expression, art, and artistry all flow outrageously from figure skating sensation Johnny Wier. His costumes run the gamut from tastefully sensational to totally outrageous and he looks phenomenal wearing them all. The costume that drew the most comments, especially from straight males, was the pink corset outfit that he wore for the men’s short program. It was decidedly feminine and not something most men would have the cojones to wear in public. However, Johnny wore it and he wore it well as he’s comfortable with who he is.
Other folks would never dream of skating in front of millions wearing a controversial costume, I express my individuality with purple nail polish instead of the more traditional red or pink. A former coworker used to wear the most outrageous ties that truly expressed who he was and the mood he was in. He had ties with rainbows, ducks, deer, and a host of other non-standard images. Although I wasn’t pleased with her outfit the other day, Cat chose to express who she was by wearing purple shorts, a blue shirt, and fishnet stockings to school. Other days she wears her pajamas because she’s not feeling the need to dress up to impress anyone.
Every winter, a Chicago artist, Fran Volz sculpts amazing snow sculptures in front of house for everyone to see. This year he had atlas holding up the world, a pair of hearts and a shark. It seemed as if every time I drove by his house there was a new ice sculpture and I loved seeing the incredible sculptures appear seemingly overnight.
Next time you’re out on the street, observe your fellow pedestrians to see if you can catch the subtly creative self expression that permeates our world, if only we know where to look for it. It’s there in the big red sunglasses, in the brightly colored gloves, in the green galoshes, in the smiles, in the haircuts, in any way that human beings declare: I am an individual.
Cairn by Cairn 