Kelsey Vidic
Performance Space Designer — ADRIFT
Kelsey Vidic’s opera-singing grandmother fueled a childhood curiosity. As her interests matured she interned with Brevard Music Center and the Santa Fe Opera. After honing her costume construction skills, she desired a life of design. She received an MFA in Costume Design at the University of Texas at Austin. Narrowing her degree expanded her path of artistry. Working with bodies, textiles and space opened doors to work with companies such as the Intel Corporation, Opera på Skåret in Kopparberg, Sweden and the Rude Mechanicals at the Guthrie Theater. Vidic currently works as the Costume Designer and runs the Costume Shop for the Dance Department at California State University, Long Beach.
Kelsey is originally from Orlando, FL, received her MFA in Costume Design from University of Texas at Austin (UTA), and is currenly based in Los Angeles, CA.
ADRIFT was a self-created piece presented at the Museum of Human Achievement in February 2017.
Adrift: I find my seed in belonging; I find my intention within the paradox of “being” versus “longing.” Through my journey to India, I observed that I feel most comfortable when I am adrift. Within the culminating installation, there is a focus on contrast and how that embodies true calmness. Shunryu Suzuki says, “Calmness of mind does not mean you should stop your activity. Real calmness should be found in activity itself.” Using this intimately immense concept while focusing on the contrast it naturally creates, this performative installation is my visual journey of be-longing. Being a professional designer, this project differed because it was my own vision. The vision began with a journey to India and the investigation of my desire to uproot myself constantly. This led to an intimate evening of performance where I described that journey and the questions that came afloat. Finally, this led to physical research with deer-block netting and polyester horsehair. I then curated these materials into a dress that represented contrasting themes and finally into a performative piece through collaboration with varied skilled artists.
