Thematic parties are becoming popular and they can be held in any venue. AiR is a company that organizes events such as this 'coming out' party, which featured the look and atmosphere of a circus or the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

 MANILA, Philippines – Cinta Posadas wanted a “Dark Circus” as a theme for her debut at the Filipinas Heritage Library on November 12. To get it, she had to look no further than Artists in Residence, Inc. (AiR), the up-and-coming art services company owned by her sister and her sister’s best friends.

To get this circus off the drawing board and on the road, AiR worked a “Moon Over Bourbon Street”-slash-New Orleans Mardi Gras feel into Cinta’s chosen color scheme of purple, black and white. Cinta chose the name “Cirque du Lune” from a number of title studies presented to her by AiR. The title was used on the invitation AiR produced for the debut, which took the form of a purple Willy Wonka-type circus ticket enveloped in black and sealed with a purple and silver wax-type seal.

The company then created a couple of circus tents within the three tents provided by the caterer using swathes of fabric anchored by two antique chandeliers. AiR provided the candle-lit chandeliers and the circus-type lights and spruced them up with crystals and ropes of faux pearls and beads. They then placed a three-foot sign reading “Cirque du Lune” on an easel draped with purple fabric at the entrance to the “Big Top.”

AiR also added some darkness to the dining arrangements with thoughtful touches such as spiders and purple candy round the centerpiece flowers, which they sprayed to give them a subtly gloomy appearance. Instead of traditional table numbers, AiR placed period photos with playful pokes at the guests in French, such as “Les Plus Chaudes Invites” or “Hottest Guests”, “Drole Invites” or “Funniest Guests”, “Les Plus Braves Invites” or “Guests Most Brave” and “Poilu Invites” or “Hairiest Guests”. Purple bubble-blowing toys were also placed on the tables for the guests’ use. At the “Ringleaders’ Table,” AiR dressed Cinta’s “throne” in purple silk and black tulle.

Outside the big top, AiR placed a cotton candy machine, a professional performance unicylist and a human statue-slash-mime dressed as a jester to receive guests at the entrance. AiR also set up a mock fortune teller complete with faux crystal ball and a “fishing for ducks” carnival game. All these attractions, as well as the prizes, were done up in the debut’s colour scheme.

Other arrangements AiR took care of include dressing up Cinta’s four birthday cakes with silver and spiders, making a tiny, yet fabulously feathered top hat for the debutante, engaging the deejay, lights, smoke and bubble machine, and producing the giveaways, which were large, made-to-order purple, black and white spiral lollipops.

Artist Cathy Lasam-Ballo, architect Jojo Ballo, and artist Jill Arwen Posadas are the managing partners and brain trust behind AiR. All three are practising, exhibiting artists with degrees in painting, communication arts and architecture from the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines and the University of Asia and the Pacific. All of them have several solo and group exhibitions to their credit at notable galleries and museums both locally and abroad.

AiR’s flagship services include the production of commissioned art pieces such as portraits and murals, and art classes for students of all ages and skill levels. Over the years, they have expanded their services to include art workshops for parties and events. This turn has led to commissions for the development and execution of event themes such as Cinta’s “Cirque du Lune.” AiR also produces invitations and souvenirs and handles graphic design requirements for these events.

To learn more about AiR, visit artistsinresidence.multiply.com or e-mail artistsinresidence.inc@gmail.com.