3 Little Birds Salon Gets Bent for Addams Family Photo Shoot

Last Sunday, with the assistance of photographer Randall Bellows, stylists and makeup artists at 3 Little Birds Salon transformed a small group of men and women into the Addams Family cast, only with a twist — we swapped the gender of each character.

For this guerilla shoot, we shot in Riverside Cemetery, after expressing our condolences to the spirits around us, and also in front of one of Cap Hill's most beautiful mansions, at the corner of Pennsylvania and 12th.

We wanted to do this shoot, not only because we thought it was a fun concept (many thanks to Chi Chi), but also because we wanted to produce content that was visually engaging while containing a deeper message: gender does not define us.

Gender roles are a dangerous aspect to society, as they limit a person's potential; they create barriers and try to herd us like sheep into two categories: masculine or feminine. However, no two people are alike and, we cannot all fit into two classifications.

Its 2013 and now more than ever, we are redefining the roles and rules that we grew up abiding. As we age, we learn that these restrictions are bull shit put in practice years ago by people of power who felt threatened by the "other," or people who don't fit into their idea of normal. But I doubt any one of us wants to be considered "normal," as we are all unique individuals. We are each constructed of many facets – we are sparkly diamonds, none of which are alike.

Nowadays, people aren't just gay or straight, male or female. While, in the past, people have tried to stay within the predetermined personalities prescribed to their gender, the times they are a'changin. Gender simply defines a set of parts, not a set of rules. A majority of us are attracted to individuals, not specific genders. And the lot of us identify with both male and female characteristics. And, because of this, we bust out of the molds we've been pressed into, and flourish as individuals.

By switching the gender of these popular characters, we show that men can represent characteristics that are typically assigned to women: sexy, feminine, passive, and loving; and women can display traits of men: strong, masculine, powerful, and aggressive. And, better yet, that each woman and man can embody the traits assigned to either gender at the same time, as things are in the real world.

Get Bent: A Gender-Bending Costume Party
Sunday, October 27th from 6-9pm
3 Little Birds Salon – 837 E. 17th Ave.

Know your role, and then switch it! Swap genders for an evening and join us as we unveil the photos from our Addams Family Gender Bender Photo Shoot! Dress up as the opposite gender, or as an Addams Family character, or just be your fabulous self! Prizes for best costumes. Music and refreshments provided.