The story of Tiger Lily is adapted from what we know as the world J. M. Barrie created in the famous tale of Peter Pan. In my novel, the characters of Peter Pan exist in modern day New York City, where young artists strive to achieve their goal, to become a professional and working artist in a city where inspiration and stimulation thrive.
Neverland is a conceptual state of mind, rather than an actual location. Neverland is still a state where those do no grow old. It is a magical place filled with mermaids, pirates and Indians, exotic wildlife, play sword fights and childlike wonder. This land exists within every artist’s mind. Artistic creations are born within this state.
Neverland exists throughout the city in small artistic communities such as communes and collectives. The ultimate goal of these communities is to reach a constant state of Neverland, the artist’s nirvana (free from suffering). Suffering, in this case, is withstanding society’s pressures to grow up, go to war, work for a corporate business, rely on an economy based on paper money. These communities strive to become self-sustaining, surviving and thriving off of as little as possible by selling artistic creations, coordinating community events or parties, planting green roofs etc. Some would describe this lifestyle as “living the dream”. However, achieving Neverland is not to be confused with “fame”. Fame is not a direct measure of success in the process of achieving Neverland.
Tiger Lily’s Conception
As a writer and performer, I have chosen method writing as a way to immerse myself as best as possible into the world of Tiger Lily. I chose to work with her character (as opposed to Wendy or Peter) because she is a strong female, a loyal friend and most importantly, she stays in Neverland. Wendy eventually succumbs to the pressures of society and leaves Neverland to “grow up” and become a mother and housewife. Tiger Lily is not so impressed by this complacent lifestyle in the “normal” world and instead becomes assimilated to the pirate culture within Neverland. The pirates teach Tiger Lily about survival as a “grown up” within Neverland.
Buried Treasure
Tiger Lily’s tribe, as many Native American tribes, believed in “waste not, want not”. Lily uses found materials, otherwise rendered as trash, to create jewelry, clothing and accessories. She adorns herself with feathers, old coins, toys, utensils, plastic yogurt containers, whatever she can find to transform resources around her into art and something of perceived value and beauty.
The headdresses I’ve created are based on the whimsical world J.M. Barrie creates in Peter Pan crossbred with the urban fashion and style of young artists in modern-day Brooklyn. Her transformation from Native Princess to Pirate Queen is demonstrated through the headpieces.
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