Art In Orbit: Kellan (@ThriftyTrekkie)
Hello there, Orbiters!
Fresh off of our last Art In Orbit Spotlight with the wonderful Hye, we're back for another instalment!
So far, Art In Orbit has been such a delight to work on, and I'm thrilled to say this addition is no different! I could go all poetic and write a small essay on how rewarding it is to engage with artists and content creators from all walks of like, but I'll save you all that and get right on to the post. So, without further ado, I'm elated to introduce you all to Kellan!
Eli: Hi Kellan, and thank you so much for joining us in the latest instalment of Art In Orbit! Before we delve into the questions, would you be able to introduce yourself to our listeners and readers, including any pronouns you use?
Kellan: Hello! I'm delighted to be here! I am nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. Sometimes you'll see me talk about my costumes with the original characters' pronouns, but behind those I am still a genderless blob.
Eli: Great, thank you – and I’m sure we can all agree that genderless blobs are the best! So, a lot of people will know about you from your (amazing, by the way!) cosplays. For anybody who doesn’t already know, could you explain what cosplay is?
Kellan: Sure! Cosplay involves dressing up as a particular character from a show, video game, book, movie, or anywhere in pop culture. For me the distinction is choosing to embody a specific character; people who wear a uniform from the Trek franchise, for example, are certainly costuming, but the 'play' part, as far as I'm concerned, means they are playing a certain character, not just themselves in a uniform. You will see people make their entire costume from scratch, or some with all purchased components, or a mixture of the two.
Eli: That sounds so interesting! How did you first get into cosplay?
Kellan: Before my first convention in 2014. I thought it was an important part of the convention experience, and in a way I was right! While it isn't mandatory to dress up when you attend a con, I don't think I would have had as much fun if I didn't cosplay. It really helped me to meet new people - I am very shy without the help of my favorite characters!
Kellan cosplaying as Commander Troi, posing at a poker table.
Eli: That makes total sense. I’ve always really admired the cosplayers I see at cons, and I bet it’s great fun! What is it about cosplay that you like and enjoy so much?
Kellan: Cosplay is uniquely powerful in allowing me to choose how I am perceived. I relate, in some way, to every character I have cosplayed, whether based on my interpretation of their gender and sexuality, or one of their traits I want to encourage within myself. When I dress as any one of them, that is exactly what people see in me, and I get a positive reaction, instead of the... less than glowing responses queer people tend to get in the 'real world.'
Of course, the way I view the characters is not something universally understood, so I am grateful to Discovery for giving us a wide range of canonically queer characters - when these characters are chosen by cosplayers, it is more clear why they made that connection and chose to embody them.
Kellan cosplaying as Ensign Tendi
Eli: That’s really powerful, and such an important point – it really highlights the importance of including diverse characters, and the huge impact this can have. Could you run us through the process of creating your cosplay looks? Do you make the outfits by hand?
Kellan: Very rarely will I make anything completely from scratch, but as far as sewing by hand, yes, I always do that! I make my costumes as quickly, easily, and cheaply as possible. I rely on existing clothing (usually secondhand, or 'thrifted') to modify into something close to what we see on screen. Once a character has inspired me, I browse online to figure out what kind of clothing I am looking for, then with a clear idea of this in mind, I make a couple trips to my local thrift stores. That way, if something is particularly hard to find, I have a backup online I might order instead. I try not to resort to that, though. That's why I take a few trips, and if I find a piece with one awesome trait and another I need to change (say it's the perfect color but not the right shape) I get creative about making it work. I don't mind cutting things up and making them fit in different ways. I also like to paint, dye, and add other textural details to make a costume piece more authentic. But existing clothing is a perfectly valid base, and it will save you a lot of time and money compared to making an entire ensemble out of thin air!
Kellan cosplaying as Garak
Eli: That’s so cool! I think a lot of people (myself, included!) can be put off from cosplay because they think it must be super expensive, so it’s really good to know ways around it. How long can your outfits take to make, on average?
Kellan: I try to spend less than a month on my projects, so I don't get burned out.
Eli: Oh, that’s definitely a good idea – it’s always important to make sure your creative hobbies don’t turn into something stressful. I know you’ve done a lot of different cosplays, but do you have any looks that you’re particularly proud of?
Kellan: I enjoy every chance I get to portray a Star Trek alien. Doing so allows me to really embrace that feeling of 'other' in a way I don't get to on an average day in public. The one people seem to know best is my Kira cosplay, and that is a great one. My favorite makeup to do is Trill spots, because they're surprisingly quick and low maintenance, and they give an impressive final effect.
Kellan cosplaying as Kira Nerys
Eli: Your Kira look is actually the first one of yours I saw! You really embody the character. I’m sure after reading this, and seeing your looks, a lot of people will be keep to experiment with cosplay - do you have any words of advice or tips for people looking to get into cosplay themselves?
Kellan: Pick your favorite character to start with. This will encourage you to get all the little details together and really pour your love for them into the project. Your love is obvious when you put the whole thing on, and even if you've never cosplayed before, you'll feel right at home with a character you enjoy!
Eli: Amazing, thank you for sharing that! So, cosplays aren’t the only creative content you produce and share. You also write some incredible novels, short stories, and works of fanfiction – what is it about writing that you enjoy?
Kellan: This might sound kind of strange, but writing is really the only way I experience and process emotions. I have a very limited scope of them in day to day life, but my understanding of emotion and reaction goes far deeper on paper. Now, to my detriment, it sometimes gets to the point where I get really agitated because I haven't been able to write recently, or a scene isn't turning out the way I planned it, but for the most part writing is an important part of my routine. Sharing my writing and discussing it with others is a way I can feel little echoes of the deeper emotional journey, off the page, so I really cherish meeting readers and talking to them!
The cover of Instrument Of Grace, one of Kellan's written works
Eli: That doesn’t sound strange in the slightest – and thank you for talking about that so candidly! Creative pursuits, whether that be photography, painting, or indeed writing, can provide us the space to access and engage with thoughts and feelings we otherwise wouldn’t connect with. Personally, I think that plays a huge role in why art is so powerful, not only to the audience, but the artist as well. Some of your writing projects are huge pieces of work that must take an incredible amount of time and work to complete. Is your writing process for these pieces different than for your shorter works?
Kellan: If I have to plan out a longer plot trajectory, yes, that takes more time and effort than a short story. But most of my pieces focus on emotion, regardless of their length, so my process is pretty much the same. Writing is part of my routine and something I work on almost every day, so there is always a story in progress. Sometimes it's satisfying to be able to sit down and finish a short piece in a day or two of sessions, versus the longer ones that can take months.
Eli: Oh, that totally makes sense!
As well as cosplay and writing, you also create some adorable plushies. Could you describe them?
Kellan: Of course. I make cuddly versions of the Trill symbionts we see in DS9. They're gray with red tendrils and iridescent Trill-spots just so you can tell what they're supposed to be. Each one is 12 inches long or more, so I guess they are 'life size' compared to the brief times we see them on screen.
A Trill symbiont plush, hand made by Kellan
Eli: Some of our listeners/readers may not know, but I am a huge Trill fan. In fact, they’re possibly my favourite Trek species, so when I saw your plushes I was overjoyed! How long does each symbiont plush take to create?
Kellan: I make them in batches of three or four at once, and it takes a couple days to go through the complete process with all of them. I cut each one out individually, so they all take on a slightly different shape. Then they get sewn together inside out, turned, stuffed, stitched shut, and then they get tendrils and two coats of paint for their spots. Each one also gets a certificate talking about the symbiont's past, so I write those and print them too.
Eli: Gosh, I love all the extra details you put into them – the certificate is a wonderful touch! So, now we’ve discussed some of your incredible work, I was wondering if you’d be able to discuss whether or not you think your identity influences or informs any of the creative content you produce?
Kellan: Absolutely. Even before I cosplayed characters I related to, my writing was a way I could establish myself and create a sense of belonging. Creative outlets are a great source of comfort and power in finding myself, and I hope it's a journey new Trek fans will begin to undertake for themselves. I'm here to help with that!
Eli: Thank you so much for collaborating with us on the latest instalment of Art In Orbit – I’ve certainly learned a lot, and I’m sure many of our readers have, too! I’m certain a lot of people are going to want to find your work after this - where can people find you and your content?
Kellan: I am most active on twitter, where I post about cosplay and writing and all kinds of Trek fandom! @ThriftyTrekkie. My etsy store is also open under the ThriftyTrekkie name.
You can read my writing on archiveofourown.org/users/KJGooding/works I also have a facebook for cosplay content, @ThriftTrek
So, that concludes the latest instalment of Art In Orbit. Thank you once again to Kellan for being such a delight and working with us - I enjoyed every moment, and I hope all of you at home did, too!
If any of you have time, I really do recommend looking at Kellan's work - their cosplays are incredible, and their symbiont plushies and works of fanfiction are no exception!
And, as always, if you at home are thinking - hey, I'm a content creator! I'm underrepresented! then please check out our Art In Orbit poster below for details on how to get in touch with us! Until next time, y'all!
