When the curtains rise on a South choir performance, every sequin, hem, and stitch has likely passed through the hands of Lori Blohm, who coordinates costuming for the Fine Arts Department. For the past two decades, Blohm has been making the costumes for the various choir singers, sewing and adjusting by hand, senior Maddy Preston, choir member, said.
Blohm began her costuming journey at South in 2005 working as an unpaid volunteer, and then in 2012 was officially brought on staff, she explained. Blohm’s first exposure to costuming was through her mother, Barbara Blohm, who previously worked as South’s Costume Creator and Coordinator for 30 years.
“I liked the visual stuff because it related to what I learned back in art to make everything look harmonious and make an impact on the stage,” Blohm said.
Blohm doesn’t work for South full -time, coming in only when needed, Preston explained. Blohm’s part-time costuming work serves as a creative outlet, though she works a full-time corporate job, Blohm said.
“When I graduated, I didn’t know whether I was going to go into business or art and graphic design,” Blohm said. “[Costuming] has allowed me to do both. My main job [is] within business and then [costuming lets me] use some of what I learned during all those years of taking art at South.”
One of the many goals of being a costume creator is to leave the audience speechless after every performance, Blohm said. Every costume must be well made and shine in their own way, she added.
“You want the audience to walk out of there saying, wow, that was stunning,” Blohm said.
Not only does she coordinate costumes, but through fitting students, Blohm assures and forges connections with students, junior Rain Kite said.
“[Blohm is] always super kind and doesn’t make you feel embarrassed about your dress size,” said Kite. “For some people that can be an insecurity.”
Costumes also help to build the confidence of the performers on stage, Kite explained.
“It makes me feel more formal, because you’re [not] in your regular clothes, so there’s a difference between when you’re performing and when you’re not,” Kite said. “Whenever I see a picture of the choir, we look awesome.”
Blohm likely wouldn’t have continued her work for long if it not for the students, and the kids frequently seek her out for guidance, she said.
“I’m here for [the students] when they want to talk and I try to teach them life skills, [that] they’ll going to need after South,” Blohm said. “I try to give [them] that perspective.”