Ali Luminescent
Encyclopedia
Ali Luminescent also known as Ali Schmitz, is a model, actress, and multi-media performance artist who produces large scale art, participatory art events, and circus spectacle theatre. Through her creations Ali Luminescent is the embodiment of the neo-faerie culture that is sweeping the world.
Ali Luminescent grew up in the theatre spending extended time in the costume and make-up department. She performs a variety of circus
arts including stilt walking, hula hoop
ing, aerial hoop
and fire dancing
and is well known for elaborate costuming and creature creation. Ali is a strong supporter of the faerie realm and all things magickal.
Her large scale photography has been featured in Boston
at the Cyclorama : Boston Center for the Arts
in 2007 and 2008 as well as in New York City
at the Queens Museum of Art
in 2008.
She has performed as a stilt
dancing back-up dancer for T-Pain
, worked with Tommy Hilfiger
and Glamour Magazine
and appeared at avant-garde art shows such as the Mark Ryden
opening at the Paul Kasmin Gallery of "Old Thyme:The Gay 90's" wearing a large meat dress inspired from his "Incarnation" painting which hailed international acclaim from W Magazine editor, UK based Juxtapoz Magazine, and Bizarre (magazine)
.
Ali Luminescent has also been featured in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Spring and Fall seasons of couture fashion line Papusza Couture—bringing her antics to the runway via roller skates, stilts, and trapeze.
Other notable performances include the Tim Burton
Benefit Dinner at the MoMA
as well as author Neil Gaiman
and partner and performer Amanda Palmer
's New York City engagement party held in unison with Cynthia von Buhler
's elaborate birthday bash where Ali Luminescent and performer and MUA Christine Geiger presented as cotton candy flavored Victorian Siamese stilt-walking twins in honor of the musical collaboration of Amanda Palmer
and Jason Webley
"Evelyn, Evelyn" and the release of the graphic novel "Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes (Dark Horse)" illustrated by Von Buhler.
Ali Luminescent was recently cast as the Bronx Italian speakeasy host in "Speakeasy Dollhouse" by aforementioned Von Buhler. The acclaimed immersive theatre piece was included in the Discovery Channel
's Oddities show as well as the documentary "Of Dolls and Murder
" directed by Susan Marks and narrated by John Waters
.
Event Production
In 2008 Ali Luminescent became the founder and head producer of the public street parade "Kaleidoscope", allowing over 500 costumed enthusiasts, including stilt walkers, hula hoopers, and pretend unicorns to enjoy public spaces around New York City
, concluding with a 2 hour fire performance. This event ran for 3 years.
Luminescent took on the role as Performance Curator for Figment (arts event)
in 2008 and 2009. Figment is a large, free, public participatory art event featuring over 400 artists and bringing over 13,000 visitors to Governors Island
helping to transition the land into an island for the arts.
In February 2010 Ali Luminescent wrote, produced, and directed "The Wonderneath", a circus theatre adventure featuring Lady Circus
members Jordann Baker, Claire de Luxe, Ellie Mio and herself along with Ateles Aerial at the House of Yes (Brooklyn)
. Music was performed by Tin Pan and complemented by lead role and guest vocalist Kai Altair
. The show was sponsored by the Swarovski
CRYSTALIZED line, allowing costumes and set pieces to be laden in crystal.
Film and TV appearances
Career
PerformanceAli Luminescent grew up in the theatre spending extended time in the costume and make-up department. She performs a variety of circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
arts including stilt walking, hula hoop
Hula hoop
A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck.Although the exact origins of hula hoops are unknown, children and adults around the world have played with hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them throughout history...
ing, aerial hoop
Aerial Hoop
The aerial hoop is a circular steel apparatus suspended from the ceiling, on which circus artists may perform aerial acrobatics. The hoop sometimes has a hand loop and a bar across the top...
and fire dancing
Fire dancing
Fire dancing is a group of performance arts or disciplines that involve manipulation of objects on fire...
and is well known for elaborate costuming and creature creation. Ali is a strong supporter of the faerie realm and all things magickal.
Her large scale photography has been featured in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
at the Cyclorama : Boston Center for the Arts
Boston Center for the Arts
The Boston Center for the Arts is a 501 nonprofit visual and performing arts complex in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The BCA houses several performance and rehearsal spaces, restaurants, a gallery, the headquarters of the Boston Ballet, the Community Music Center of Boston...
in 2007 and 2008 as well as in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Queens Museum of Art
Queens Museum of Art
The Queens Museum of Art is an art museum and educational center located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, United States.-Overview:...
in 2008.
She has performed as a stilt
Stilt
Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates....
dancing back-up dancer for T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
, worked with Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
and Glamour Magazine
Glamour magazine
Glamour magazine means:* Glamour magazine, a U.S. publication aimed at a predominantly female readership* a girlie magazine aimed at a male readership featuring photographs of women...
and appeared at avant-garde art shows such as the Mark Ryden
Mark Ryden
-Early life:Ryden is the son of Barbara and Keith Ryden, born in Medford, Oregon but raised in Southern California. He has two sisters and two brothers, one a fellow artist named Keyth Ryden....
opening at the Paul Kasmin Gallery of "Old Thyme:The Gay 90's" wearing a large meat dress inspired from his "Incarnation" painting which hailed international acclaim from W Magazine editor, UK based Juxtapoz Magazine, and Bizarre (magazine)
Bizarre (magazine)
Bizarre is a British alternative magazine published from 1997 to the present. It is currently published by Dennis Publishing; it is a sister publication to the Fortean Times.-Content:...
.
Ali Luminescent has also been featured in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Spring and Fall seasons of couture fashion line Papusza Couture—bringing her antics to the runway via roller skates, stilts, and trapeze.
Other notable performances include the Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
Benefit Dinner at the MoMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...
as well as author Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
and partner and performer Amanda Palmer
Amanda Palmer
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
's New York City engagement party held in unison with Cynthia von Buhler
Cynthia von Buhler
Cynthia von Buhler a.k.a. Countess von Buhler, is an American artist, performer, and children's book author.-Early life:Von Buhler was raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the middle child in an artistic family with six children...
's elaborate birthday bash where Ali Luminescent and performer and MUA Christine Geiger presented as cotton candy flavored Victorian Siamese stilt-walking twins in honor of the musical collaboration of Amanda Palmer
Amanda Palmer
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
and Jason Webley
Jason Webley
Jason Webley is an American musician known for his fusion of folk, experimental and alternative music. He began as a busker, playing accordion in the streets of Seattle, Washington, but has since moved in-doors and on stage, playing various venues....
"Evelyn, Evelyn" and the release of the graphic novel "Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes (Dark Horse)" illustrated by Von Buhler.
Ali Luminescent was recently cast as the Bronx Italian speakeasy host in "Speakeasy Dollhouse" by aforementioned Von Buhler. The acclaimed immersive theatre piece was included in the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's Oddities show as well as the documentary "Of Dolls and Murder
Of Dolls and Murder
Of Dolls and Murder is a documentary film about a collection of dollhouse crime scenes and society's collective fascination with death. The film is still fundraising to finish post-production.-Subject Matter:...
" directed by Susan Marks and narrated by John Waters
John Waters
-Entertainment:*John Waters , American film director, active 1926–29 and 1947*John Waters , American film director, writer, visual artist, actor and cult figure...
.
Event Production
In 2008 Ali Luminescent became the founder and head producer of the public street parade "Kaleidoscope", allowing over 500 costumed enthusiasts, including stilt walkers, hula hoopers, and pretend unicorns to enjoy public spaces around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, concluding with a 2 hour fire performance. This event ran for 3 years.
Luminescent took on the role as Performance Curator for Figment (arts event)
Figment (Arts event)
FIGMENT is an annual participatory arts event on Governors Island in New York Harbor, USA. The mission of FIGMENT is to provide a forum for community-based participatory art and experience...
in 2008 and 2009. Figment is a large, free, public participatory art event featuring over 400 artists and bringing over 13,000 visitors to Governors Island
Governors Island
Governors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
helping to transition the land into an island for the arts.
In February 2010 Ali Luminescent wrote, produced, and directed "The Wonderneath", a circus theatre adventure featuring Lady Circus
Lady Circus
Lady Circus is a performing arts troupe in New York City composed of eight ladies who perform solo, in small groups, or in a variety show setting in their entirety...
members Jordann Baker, Claire de Luxe, Ellie Mio and herself along with Ateles Aerial at the House of Yes (Brooklyn)
House of Yes (Brooklyn)
The House of YES is an artist collective with a performance venue and art space in Brooklyn, New York. It was founded in May 2007 in Ridgewood, Queens, as a work and play space, as well as home to some of its founders and participants. It had hosted numerous underground art and music shows, fashion...
. Music was performed by Tin Pan and complemented by lead role and guest vocalist Kai Altair
Kai Altair
- Artist info :Kai's professional music career began with the founding of the electro pop band The Switch in 2004. The numerous stages at which they played laid the foundation for her solo career in 2009, which began with the release of the EP Star of the Sea on October 31...
. The show was sponsored by the Swarovski
Swarovski
Swarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
CRYSTALIZED line, allowing costumes and set pieces to be laden in crystal.
Film and TV appearances
- Featured as the Earth Goddess in "1000 Names Productions" 2010 video release of "Hidden Sister" as a woman that is part 9 foot tree to the song "Shine" by singer Kai AltairKai Altair- Artist info :Kai's professional music career began with the founding of the electro pop band The Switch in 2004. The numerous stages at which they played laid the foundation for her solo career in 2009, which began with the release of the EP Star of the Sea on October 31...
. She is featured alongside Anya Sapozhnikova, Veronica VarlowVeronica VarlowTara Lee Heffner, better known by her stage name Veronica Varlow, is a burlesque dancer, pin-up model, actress, producer and performance artist based in Brooklyn, New York...
, Sera Solstice, and Abby Hertz. This short has been accepted into 11 film festivals througout North America and Australia including the Tribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film FestivalThe Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
and the Miami Short Film FestivalMiami Short Film FestivalThe Miami Short Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Miami, Florida, USA. The festival was established in 2002 by William Vela and takes place around the second and third week of November...
.
- Sashayed the winning look on Project RunwayProject RunwayProject Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
Season 9 Episode 3: Go Big or Go Home as a stilt walking model for their first ever outdoor public fashion show in Battery Park City.
Awards and Accolades
Ali Luminescent is an alternative Pageant Queen who holds multiple titles.- Miss Firefly 2007
- Miss Black Rock City 2007
- Miss Everything to Infinity
- Best Mermaid 2009 at the Coney Island Mermaid ParadeConey Island Mermaid ParadeThe Coney Island Mermaid Parade takes place every year in Coney Island, New York in mid-to-late June. The Parade is a lively and welcoming ocean-themed event open to everyone....