Students on ASU's campus may have noticed something unusual Thursday: The iPod that rests in the pockets of so many students was walking around outside the Memorial Union.
A group of 3-D design students presented their full-body costume creations in various locations on campus, including Forest Mall and the north side of the MU.
The costumes, constructed mostly of chicken wire and papier-maché, are a required project for a Three-Dimensional Design (ART 115) class, according to Renai Rodriguez, a 20-year-old art major with an emphasis on fibers.
"Everyone in the class makes costumes," Rodriguez said. "If you want to pass the class, of course."
For her part, Rodriguez, who asked to be addressed as "Mrs. Potato Head," was dressed in a bulbous brown costume with large eyes and mouth slightly askew and a shock of blonde "hair."
After being out on campus for about an hour, said Rodriguez, "It's like a sauna in here!"
Rodriguez's classmate, 20-year-old photography major Danielle Savedra, was dressed as Mr. Potato Head, complete with detachable eyes, nose, tongue and ears. The extra "appendages" were held on by Velcro.
"People stare," Savedra said. "It's cool, but it's really hot in here."
Savedra mentioned that some of her other classmates were dressed as a camera, a goldfish, a boot and even a Transformer, from the popular 1980s cartoon series.
"A lot of work goes into these," she said, as a bystander attempted to re-attach one of her "ears," which had fallen on the ground.
Fellow photography major Haley Naugle, 20, encouraged interaction with the surrounding students by throwing her "straw" on the ground.
"Can somebody get my straw? I'm missing the straw!" Naugle shouted as she tossed the large red and white straw from the top of her costume, a large pink cocktail glass complete with a red parasol.
Naugle said that while the students are wearing the costumes, they are required to interact with passersby.
"It's considered to be a performative piece," she said.
Accordingly, students and teachers alike stopped with askance looks, camera phones, and even video recorders to capture the unusual display for posterity.
Naugle also sported a cherry-like hat, the only item which she did not make herself as part of her costume.
"I bought it for, like, $1.95 at Target," she said with a laugh.
Naugle explained that her costume was loosely inspired by the Rupert Holmes song "Escape (The Pina Coladas Song)."
"We basically do anything 3-D related," Naugle said of the students' work in the class. "We've worked with cardboard, we've done plaster sculpture, and obviously chicken-wire costumes."
Naugle explained that while the students are patrolling the campus in their costumes, they are actually in class.
"It's been fun," she said enthusiastically. "I mean, it's a three-hour class. You can pretty much do almost whatever you want."
Like her classmates, Naugle exuded a pleasant disposition despite the conditions provided by her costume.
"My head's hot," Naugle said. "Other than that, I'm fine."
Reach the reporter at: justin.s.adams@asu.edu.
