In Los Angeles, I became enchanted with the faded glamour hiding in plain sight. I stumbled upon a disconnected subculture populated with dazzling, glamorous mature females. In an ongoing body of work, I seek out and photograph fabulous women for a collaborative portrait series that includes pictures of individuals who answer an online ad soliciting older women to pose as glamorous movie stars:

Seeking fabulous, striking, interesting older women to pose as glamorous movie stars for photo series. Please submit a photo and describe how you would pose as a glamorous movie star. There is no pay, but images will be provided. All types are welcome. Thank you!

The pictures are collaborations: I ask each person to provide her own makeup, hair, and wardrobe. The women can shape their portrayal as active players in the affair. Some base their performances on familiar movie stars, while others create personas inspired by a combination of old Hollywood movies, personal visions of glamour, and neglected gowns from the closet.

- Francine found a vintage Bob Mackie at a second-hand store in Burbank; Linda Evans allegedly once wore the golden gown on Dynasty.

- Claudia wanted to meet in the park; she said she would like to pose as Gina Lollobrigida, and she brought a faux fur to stretch out and wore a matching blond wig.

- Mara had planned to be at least ten people for the day, each having a specific scenario, including a bathing beauty in a bath of bubbles at her home in Rancho Cucamonga (a glamour bath à la Brigitte Bardot).

The shows are fantasies, and the performance reflects each woman’s idea of glamour, revealing perceptions of Hollywood. The women are understood to be motivated by the desire to perform, as though this essential desire had been left idle and unfulfilled. While posing as a glamorous movie star, a dream is activated, and each person is, for a moment, fulfilling their fantasy.

Medium format film and digital photography, prints for exhibition range in size from 4x6” to 16x20”.