I am always on the lookout for inspiration, and many times I find it in the most peculiar places. An old storybook, a magazine clipping, or just something that catches my eye, but Alexander McQueen has been a constant source of inspiration for some time now.

I remember first being turned on to his work while I was living in New York, I remembered walking by the store windows in the meat packing district once a month, just to get a closer look. I had never been so moved by one designers work, and instantly became a devoted fan. It was while I lived in New York, that the world lost Lee McQueen, the genius behind the brand, and I was deeply saddened.

I still followed his work, looking into the past, and feeling as if I had lost my chance to ever shoot anyone in his clothes. Some time later I heard of the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the MET. I was instantly enamored at the thought of being immersed in the world of McQueen and knew I had to visit. My friend Ashley and I instantly made plans to go and visit my friend Shien, and attend her beautiful Spring Garden Ball, the perfect accompaniment to the McQueen event held at a historic castle built by the Rockefellers in Harlem.

Shien, Daniel, Ashley, and I put on our best, as if to try and honor McQueen somehow, and made the long journey up the steps into the exhibit. I was floored. I am someone who fully pours into any sort of exhibition, movie, play, and lives in that world just for a bit, because that is what the artist is inviting you to do. The room was chilled, like a cold dungeon as we were viewing McQueen’s first collection that long time supporter Isabella Blow had purchased. The tailoring was immaculate, and the quotes were so moving.

As we moved through this room, we entered the next filled with larger than life creatures, clothes that had so much personality they were overbearing creatures. With a soundtrack like we were in a deep catacomb with howling animals, and a slight chill in the room as well, we gazed upon the clothing. I assigned characters to each of the pieces, and moved slowly throughout the room. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. In a large golden case, McQueen’s Angels and Demons collection was housed. The clothes were so beautiful. Golden hand painted duck feathers carefully crafted into a coat, and shoes that were out of this world.

The next room, was the cabinet of curiosities. Large cabinets were filled with wonderful, creepy, and elegant items from years of McQueen’s shows. Crystal birds nest hats, full suits of armor, an earring that was a chicken foot clutching a string of pearls. Seeing these pieces up close in person, was such an incredible experience.

As we moved throughout the exhibit through the other collections, i was stopped by the Kate Moss hologram. We had to stoop down to see through the tiny opening, and what was a clouded figure quickly revealed a widow, floating through the air, as if she were actually there. She rotated around and around, I felt as if I were to stick my hand to touch her she would disappear into a cloud of smoke. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. i dont say that lightly, but for some reason at this moment, something really clicked with me. I still cannot put my finger on it, but I was so moved.

We traveled through the music box room, and into the last room with the flower covered gown, and the famous deer antlers pierced by the priceless lace. I was overwhelmed. How could one person be responsible for all of this beauty. I learned so much from this exhibit. One thing I left contemplating, was the fact that bringing beauty into the world, is not enough to live on alone. That is why I am thankful for my savior, my reason for being, and the purpose he has given me on this Earth.

I was inspired to do a shoot based on what I learned at this exhibit, in which i will be creating many pieces for, be on the lookout for that. It is a story about an archeologist, who discovers the queen of a lost civilization deep beneath the desert floor.