Ode to King Kong

In anticipation of the December 14th opening of Peter Jackson's King Kong, I thought I'd give you all a look at LabLinoleum's version of the great ape. I find it difficult to believe that I made this costume/puppet almost six years ago while residing in Kuwait, but alas, it is true. Don't ask me why I was thinking about a gigantor gorilla and his movie legacy while living in the Arabian Desert. Maybe my mind needed to embellish the expansive sandy flatness that is that region of the world. Or maybe I was homesick for my beloved Los Angeles, my birthplace and also birthplace of the American film industry...Ahhh, Hollywood. Or perhaps I felt as if King Kong was a metaphor for my feeling the ultimate other in a very homogeneous Arab society.

Just prior to the onset of the Kong idea trickling into the crevices of my gray matter, I remember scouring the desert in search of craft materials for the supply I brought with me was becoming dangerously close to extinction. Finding craft supplies in the Arabian desert??? No small task, I can assure you. Finally after having driven Kuwait City from end to end or so it seemed, I stumbled upon a shop near my home (of all places) in the shopping district of Salmiya, stuffed floor to ceiling with crochet thread, notions, trim, outrageously embellished fabric, hooks, needles and shears...Walking in there brought tears to my eyes. Literally. And a few miles away in large hardware store no-less, I was amazed to find bolts of acrylic felt in four colors: cherry red, kelly green, black and white. I bought as much as I could carry and sprinted back to my flat with my crafty acquisitions.

I don't even remember how the concept that I should create my own version of the famed ape took root. It seems now as if the idea was simply a crafty immaculate conception. Staring at my newly acquired felt and thread and whatnots I just started working. In a matter of hours my Kong had taken shape.

Feet first...



Handsewn from felt with crocheted ribbing, I cut out his toenails from a black plastic folder I had laying around and sewed them on. Though it may not seem so on your monitor, these Kong footsies are larger than life.

Then the hands created with the same crafty processes as the feet...



Finished off the whole ensemble with the head (notice that this was made in my B.E. * Before Eyeballs * period)...



Of course my Kong has aspirations. He would like to shed his monstrous image and take his show on the road to become a stylin' rave DJ! That's right...make way for DJ Kong!

...And his sidekick, the former finger puppet turned Kong Fly Girl, Fay Wray!



I don't know about you peeps, but I am definitely going to see King Kong this weekend. I may even wear my DJ Kong duds. What'd ya think?

Copyright 2005-2006 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.