Angel Action Wings for Pulse
Stories in the News:
A link to the instructions and pattern I created based on Romaine Patterson’s original design is available on the Orlando Shakes Webpage: Angel Action Wings for Orlando
The Artistic Director for Orlando Shakes, Jim Helsinger, contacted me following the Pulse Massacre with the idea of building angel wings in the style of those used to shield Matthew Sheppard’s mourners and at the end of the play The Laramie Project because a hate group had announced they would be harassing families at funerals for the Pulse victims.
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He sent me information about the original wings and asked if I could come design and build the fabric portions of 10 pairs of wings (their scene shop would be building the frames). We gathered a handful of volunteers while I designed the pattern, drew up instructions, and created a prototype based on the information on Romaine Patterson's website. We were able to finish the 10 pairs of wings needed for the funerals in a day. They were effective in blocking the hate speech from the mourning families.
Because of the positive impact the wings had on the community, Helsinger decided to expand the number of wings to represent each of the pulse victims (plus an additional Orlando shooting victim) at the benefit concert, “Beautiful Together”, being held at the Dr. Phillips Center. Volunteers from the costume shop at Disney and surrounding theatres came to the Shakes costume shop and I supervised about 40 volunteers over the course of the day in creating the remaining 40 pairs of wings.
The wings became a symbol of mourning for our community. Due to the demanding performance schedule of Orlando Shakes, the LGBT Community Center of Central Florida (The Center) assumed responsibility of the wings. The Center now manages the use of the “Angel Wings.” They have been loaned to a number of other local and national community events including memorials, Pride parades, and as shields for mourners at funerals across the country.