Tarah Cards is wearing Elektra Microfine glitters in Ruby Red and Peridot Green mixed with the Liquid Transformer, and Fire Opal Body Shimmer.
At the beginning of March, multidisciplinary artist, musician, and international drag performer Tarah Cards had her sights set on 2020 being a good year. Her folk quartet The Wanting was set to play Jazz Fest for the second year in a row, she had a trip to London planned in May, and a schedule full of shows set. Then, the full crushing force of the pandemic hit.
While DJing what would become her final live gig for countless months to come, Tarah and fellow performer Laveau Contraire, had the idea to pivot live performance onto a digital platform. Their concept became the world’s first online drag festival, cyber DISTANCING.
From March to December 2020, Laveau and Tarah hosted the monthly weekend long festival, featuring digital acts by 145 performers from New Orleans to Berlin. But equally as impressive as the acts themselves was the look and feel of the online festival.
The punchy and hip editing made you feel as if you were watching drag of the future, set in some distant, post-apocalyptic world. When in actuality, the pandemic forced drag and variety artists to find a new way to perform. Of course, the online space lends itself perfectly to the futuristic-feel of the festival.
“Being creative in this new virtual realm has been very exciting and almost limitless in terms of possibilities. However, it is also a tremendous amount of work. Performers have had to become videographers, directors, and editors. As individuals we are doing the work of an entire film crew and that’s on top of being promotional director, seamstress, wig stylist, and performer…oh, and I almost forgot to mention having a life to navigate as well.”
Luckily, the hard work paid off. The festival garnered attention, being featured in articles for Rolling Stone, Dazed, and on NPR as well. Plus, Tarah’s first pandemic related parody became a viral hit on Facebook garnering over 70,000 views.
Cyber DISTANCING has truly ushered in a new era of drag and burlesque performance and gives performers an excuse and avenue to create bold performances that used to exist only on the stage. Not to mention, the ability to earn tips and get paid for their craft once again.
After nearly 10 months of online shows, cyber DISTANCING is taking a well earned sabbatical.
“Being at the helm of such a large scale production has been incredibly enriching and has helped maintain my sense of connection to the local performance community. I couldn’t imagine what my year would have been like without the drive to create this space for performers.”
Community has always been important to Tarah. The Allways Lounge isn’t just the venue where cyber DISTANCING participants can safely film an on-stage performance (sans an audience). Before the pandemic, The Allways, the anything-goes cabaret club, was the hub for creative and unique performers.
“Zoom pales in comparison to a night out at the Allways, but I am so grateful that we have technology to keep us somewhat saited…The crucial moments spent sharing the singular and unique talents of New Orleans Drag and Burlesque artists with the world has kept me sane. Just knowing what Laveau and I are facilitating is helping people feel seen and tapped in during a time when we are all feeling so isolated, makes it entirely worthwhile.”
Though drag is an all-encompassing way for Tarah to fully express her perspective and talents, she finds other inspiration all around her.
“Being creative and making art is a daily activity for me. From large scale projects to a simple doodle, I’m wired to be a maker. It’s almost reflexive. But, New Orleans is the ultimate muse.”
“New Orleans has been my home for a decade and I am consistently surprised by how my creativity has expanded further than I even imagined possible. One of the most enduring gifts of this city is it’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. If you are called to be an artist here, it’s your responsibility to recognize how to properly honor those gifts.”
Quarantining in New Orleans has had its challenges for Tarah, a true extrovert.
“Being home has created a number of obstacles for my whimsical artist brain. Designating a work space has helped me stay more task oriented.”
One other project that Tarah completed while at home was the Creative Capsule powered by Elektra Cosmetics. Launched in April 2020, the Creative Capsule was a way to continue to collaborate with artists and performers and do photoshoots from a safe distance. Each contributor was given a care package and curated kit to help inspire them to create.
Tarah Cards is using Elektra’s Power Pigments Fleurty, Cinnabar and Love Potion. See below for the product links.
The Creative Capsule came at a difficult time for many of the participants. The Summer of 2020 brought social unrest and protests around the world in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tarah was one of the those that took the opportunity to make a statement while creating art.
“When I did the Earth Tones creative capsule I wanted to express my solidarity with the movement. As long as I am an artist, social justice will always be part of my creative process.”
Tarah Cards is using Elektra’s Power Pigments Fleur de Lis, Sazerac, and Red Beans with the Copper Conjure Bolt Balm and Copper AB Microfine. See below for the product links.
“I feel that it is my privilege to use my platform as an artist to engage my community and leverage my creativity to help shine a light forward. Drag is a form of protest. Our fore-bearers took to the streets, led marches, and fought for equality.”
For years, Tarah Cards has used her status as an artist to give back to her community of New Orleans by working with the Krewe of Red Beans. And the pandemic has been no different.
In fact, the krewe has kept Tarah very busy. One project included creating bean art for poster and billboard campaigns, as an homage to frontline workers.
If the Krewe of Red Beans sounds familiar to you, it might be because of their ‘Hire a Mardi Gras Artist’ initiative which was formed to raise funds for laid-off carnival artists to give them work while bringing Mardi Gras magic to New Orleans neighborhoods.
Or, it might be because earlier in the pandemic the krewe gave away $10,000 to one lucky New Orleanian simply for wearing a mask.
That’s right. Tarah herself had the honor of drawing the raffle winner for the Mask Up Sweepstakes on live TV that made someone 10 grand richer while using positive reinforcement to promote mask usage.
“I am immensely proud to be working alongside this krewe to help New Orleans during this challenging time. Devin Dewulf, the Krewe founder, is such a force of nature and is always scheming ways to give back. It’s an honor to be helping along the fundraisers and initiatives that the crew is cooking up to help our city.”
Delivering groceries for Feed the Secondline is yet another way Tarah and the Krewe of Red Beans helped the community, which has been very hard-hit by the virus.
Now, the Krewe of Red Beans sets its sights on helping another struggling industry. Soon, the krewe will announce its latest fundraiser to assist local bars and clubs in New Orleans.
Follow the Krewe of Red Beans here on Instagram to stay up-to-date and find ways to get involved.
If you want to make a statement while creating a beautiful lewk like Tarah Cards, click here to purchase a Creative Capsule and start your own inspirational journey.
Click here to join “The Extra, Extra” and receive emails about other unapologetically creative folks like Tarah. Each week we feature another Elektralyte who inspires us and we find out how they have continued on with their creative self-care despite Covid.
