#darrell thorne

KEDESIA: This week we had the chance to meet Darrell Thorne and I have a few questions for you about him. Starting with the documentary he showed us, what about the film the stuck out to you?

CORY: What stuck out to me the most was is how open he was in discussing that he was HIV positive. It's always great to have insight into someone's obstacles and see how they overcome them because it gives you a lot of inspiration. I found it really cool that he didn't let that stop him from doing what he loves. I like his passion. He worked at a hospital, came from a religious family, and always had a feeling that he was different, but that never stopped him.

Youth Corps try on one of Darrell’s handmade masks.

KEDESIA: If asked to, do you think you would be able to make a headpiece in the same time frame as him?

CORY: He's been doing this for a long time so he has the experience and practice! If he could teach me, then I’d try it.

Darrell and dancers in costume at the Armory’s 2016 Gala. Photo by Da Ping Luo

KEDESIA: He also does body painting! What do you think about that?

CORY: I think it's fascinating how he creates an illusion with paint on the body. It can trick you into thinking it's something when it's not. It's a different way of creating art. It’s original and I find it mesmerizing.

KEDESIA: Do you think it was hard for Darrell to express himself coming from a religious background?