Fancy Friday #11 December 25, 2020 Twas the night before christmas, and down in the kitchen TL and Jas stand, their hair accessories bitchin’ Surrounded by tinsel, pinecones, and sparklers; Our two heroes stand dressed in dark colours; Jas is adorned with a disco ball A happy holiday to one and to all In a festive scene, Jas and TL stand surrounded by seasonal stockings, bows, and pinecone arrangements. Jas is dressed in a black shirt, pants, socks, and sliders; a disco ball hanging from their arm, and they hand TL a lit sparkler. TL accepts the sparkler, a tinsel scarf hanging around their neck and looping down to their black pencil skirt and sheepskin slippers, their palm outstretched to the camera.

Fancy Friday #11 December 25, 2020

Twas the night before christmas, and down in the kitchen

TL and Jas stand, their hair accessories bitchin’

Surrounded by tinsel, pinecones, and sparklers;

Our two heroes stand dressed in dark colours;

Jas is adorned with a disco ball

A happy holiday to one and to all

In a festive scene, Jas and TL stand surrounded by seasonal stockings, bows, and pinecone arrangements. Jas is dressed in a black shirt, pants, socks, and sliders; a disco ball hanging from a thick red ribbon looped around their neck, and they hand TL a lit sparkler. TL accepts the sparkler, a floor-length tinsel scarf draped across their front and looped under a slipper.

Fancy Fridays

Inspired by a Guardian article published on Mar 27, 2020 (about 2 weeks after the pandemic was officially declared by the WHO), which described the #formalfriday phenomenon sweeping New Zealand, T.L. Cowan & Jas Rault decided to take the challenge. This led to 13 home portraits staged over the first 10 months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We were asked to make a calendar. This is what we've got.


Creative Commons Licence


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.




Fancy Fridays Staging

Created, set, and shot by TL & Jas as they worked to find and then build a shared concept, each image in the series is staged in the same location in their rented house. Each picture depicts them wearing their at-home footwear of choice: black sliders for Jas, and tan sheepskin slippers for TL. Each portrait is posed in front their electric piano, with a collection of measuring sticks nailed haphazardly to the wall behind and, to the right, a diningroom table pragmatically pushed to the corner of the room, piled with everyday life. Items of their lives grace the background: cat dishes, the box of a thousand piece puzzle they’ve been working on, the rubber tree plant that reaches ever closer to their window throughout the series, mirroring our movement toward hope amid global despair; cat toys on the floor, various bottles placed on the edge of a white countertop; an unframed print of Peter Hujar's "David Brintzenhofe in Drag," 1982; a pink, cat-shaped wine bottle received as a gift.


The images are shot on an iPhone with various domestic lighting experiments and edited using iPhone photo filters. All elements worn and shown were found within the house and, especially, T.L.'s copious collections of wigs, costumes, trinkets and housewares. Nothing was purchased or brought into the house explicitly for a Fancy Friday shoot.

Visual Descriptions by Emily "Flare" Faubert.

Three images capturing the staging elements of the series: Each image in the series is staged in the same location in their rented house: against their piano, with a collection of measuring sticks nailed haphazardly to the wall behind and a dining room table pushed to the wall, piled with everyday life. Each picture depicts T.L. & Jas wearing their at-home footwear of choice: black sliders for Jas, and tan sheepskin slippers for TL. Items of their lives grace the background: cat dishes, a thousand piece puzzle they’ve been working on, and the rubber tree plant that reaches ever closer to their window throughout the series; mirroring our movement toward hope amid global despair.
Three images capturing the staging elements of the series: Each image in the series is staged in the same location in their rented house: against their piano, with a collection of measuring sticks nailed haphazardly to the wall behind and a dining room table pushed to the wall, piled with everyday life. Each picture depicts T.L. & Jas wearing their at-home footwear of choice: black sliders for Jas, and tan sheepskin slippers for TL. Items of their lives grace the background: cat dishes, a thousand piece puzzle they’ve been working on, and the rubber tree plant that reaches ever closer to their window throughout the series; mirroring our movement toward hope amid global despair.
Three images capturing the staging elements of the series: Each image in the series is staged in the same location in their rented house: against their piano, with a collection of measuring sticks nailed haphazardly to the wall behind and a dining room table pushed to the wall, piled with everyday life. Each picture depicts T.L. & Jas wearing their at-home footwear of choice: black sliders for Jas, and tan sheepskin slippers for TL. Items of their lives grace the background: cat dishes, a thousand piece puzzle they’ve been working on, and the rubber tree plant that reaches ever closer to their window throughout the series; mirroring our movement toward hope amid global despair.

Fancy Fridays

March 2020 - January 2021

Fancy Fridays #1 - March 27, 2020 I love this Faux Fur Vest Edition Dressed in all black, the two look down the barrel of the camera with neutral faces, and you can feel them staring into your very soul. David Brintzenhofe in Drag has joined their crew, gazing from a gelatin and silver print leaning on the piano. Jas has a hand in their pocket, looking sharp in a black button-down, cuffed pants, socks, and sliders. TL has accessorised with sheepskin slippers, a bustier, fur vest, and ornate layered necklace, poised with a hand on their hip.

Fancy Fridays #1 - March 27, 2020

I Love This Faux Fur Vest Edition

Dressed in all black, the two look down the barrel of the camera with neutral faces, and you can feel them staring into your very soul. David Brintzenhofe in Drag has joined their crew, gazing from a gelatin and silver print leaning on the piano. Jas has a hand in their pocket, looking sharp in a black button-down, cuffed pants, socks, and sliders. TL has accessorised with sheepskin slippers, a bustier, fur vest, and ornate layered necklace, poised with a hand on their hip.

Fancy Fridays #2 - April 3, 2020 May I Have This Dance Edition Ready for a night on the town, the two stand statuesque; Jas with a hand in their jeans pocket, pants cuffed over striped socks and sliders. TL is shimmering in a zebra-esque black and silver v neck, topped off with sheepskin slippers, and a silver set of earrings, necklace, and geometric belt.

Fancy Fridays #2 - April 3, 2020

May I Have This Dance Edition

Ready for a night on the town, the two stand statuesque; Jas with a hand in their jeans pocket, pants cuffed over striped socks and sliders. TL is shimmering in a zebra-esque black and silver v neck, topped off with sheepskin slippers, and a silver set of earrings, necklace, and geometric belt.

Fancy Fridays #3 - Apr 10 2020 Good ‘housecoat’ Friday Edition It’s good friday, and the two have donned their finest housecoats to celebrate the long weekend. Jas glances into the camera, their long green satin housecoat open over a black outfit and sliders; the back of their short hair spiked and a hand tucked into a pants pocket. TL poses with a hand at their hip, fluffy sheepskin slipper poised under a floral pink and black silk robe and glamorous necklace.

Fancy Fridays #3 - Apr 10 2020

Good ‘housecoat’ Friday Edition

It’s good friday, and the two have donned their finest housecoats to celebrate the long weekend. Jas glances into the camera, their long green satin housecoat open over a black outfit and sliders; the back of their short hair spiked and a hand tucked into a pants pocket. TL poses with a hand at their hip, fluffy sheepskin slipper poised under a floral pink and black silk robe and glamorous necklace.



Fancy Fridays #4 - April 17, 2020 Canadian Tuxedo Two Ways Edition Oot and aboot in their living room Jas and TL have donned their finest canadian tuxedos: Jas in a matching dark denim top and bottoms, making their sliders and socks pop; TL in a dark denim shoulder warmer, light denim jeans cuffed at the ankle, and a blue hot topic shirt featuring a unicorn flying over a rainbow. TL’s sheepskin slipper is poised over a rainbow cat toy on the floor, matching the unicorn’s flight over the rainbow.

Fancy Fridays #4 - April 17, 2020

Canadian Tuxedo Two Ways Edition

Oot and aboot in their living room Jas and TL have donned their finest canadian tuxedos: Jas in a matching dark denim top and bottoms, making their sliders and socks pop; TL in a dark denim shoulder warmer, light denim jeans cuffed at the ankle, and a blue hot topic shirt featuring a unicorn flying over a rainbow. TL’s sheepskin slipper is poised over a rainbow cat toy on the floor, matching the unicorn’s flight over the rainbow.


Fancy Friday #5 April 24, 2020 Fatigued friday lunch hour edition The feeling of rainy weather and dead ground, Jas and TL have captured melancholy late April. The two are seated, leaning into each other, wearing soft flannel housecoats over their cozy clothes and slippers. TL stares off forlornly, wearing a short black wig with bangs, perhaps wondering “when will this pandemic end?” The two hold beers, and a family-sized bag of lightly salted Lays chips to share between them.

Fancy Friday #5 - April 24, 2020
Fatigued Friday Lunch Hour Edition

The feeling of rainy weather and dead ground, Jas and TL have captured melancholy late April. The two are seated, leaning into each other, wearing soft flannel housecoats over their cozy clothes and slippers. TL stares off forlornly, wearing a short black wig with bangs, perhaps wondering “when will this pandemic end?” The two hold beers, and a family-sized bag of lightly salted Lays chips to share between them.



Fancy Friday #6 - MAY DAY - May 1, 2020 May Day Edition Rosie the Riveter may not be pictured, but the two have captured her essence posed like an amazing labour power poster. Jas is in all black down to their sliders, their sleeves rolled up, holding a martini shaker like a cement block. TL is in sheepskin slippers, a navy jumpsuit with patch declaring “feminism works!” on the chest pocket, and they hold an electronic hand mixer, ready to blend any patriarchal nonsense into icing.

Fancy Friday #6 - MAY DAY - May 1, 2020

May Day Edition
Rosie the Riveter may not be pictured, but the two have captured her essence posed like an amazing labour power poster. Jas is in all black down to their sliders, their sleeves rolled up, holding a martini shaker like a cement block. TL is in sheepskin slippers, a navy jumpsuit with patch declaring “feminism works!” on the chest pocket, and they hold an electronic hand mixer, ready to blend any patriarchal nonsense into icing.

Fancy Fridays #7 - May 8, 2020 Summer is Never Coming Edition “Fond-do get comfortable with endless isolated winter. Fond-don’t stop drinking wine.” The two are cozily seated in their at-home makeshift ski chalet, lit by crackling saint candles, a miniature fondue set on the piano between them, and rounded wine glasses in hand. Jas looks ready for the slopes in a puffer vest, sliders, and ski goggles; TL is wearing a long red wig, looking like a chic winter collection model in their flannel, sheepskin slippers, nordic sweater, and striped toque.

Fancy Fridays #7 - May 8, 2020

Summer is Never Coming Edition

“Fond-do get comfortable with endless isolated winter, fond-don’t stop drinking wine”

The two are cozily seated in their at-home makeshift ski chalet, lit by crackling saint candles, a miniature fondue set on the piano between them, and rounded wine glasses in hand. Jas looks ready for the slopes in a puffer vest, sliders, and ski goggles; TL is wearing a long red wig, looking like a chic winter collection model in their flannel, sheepskin slippers, nordic sweater, and striped toque.



Fancy Friday #8 - May 15, 2020 Something Blossoms Eternal Edition TL and Jas are giving us peak high-park-cherry-blossom vibes, standing under a pink patterned umbrella. Jas wears black cargo capris, sliders, and a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up: TL looks ready for an awards show in a glamorous feathered pink wig, glitter dress, sheepskin slippers, and matching pink printed leggings. Both wear cloth face masks that cover their faces up to their eyes. Jas’s is grey and white striped. TL’s mask is black, mirroring the puff sleeves on their dress and their elbow-high gloves in which they hold a pink cat-shaped wine bottle tilted against their chest like a casual trophy.

Fancy Friday #8 - May 15, 2020

Something Blossoms Eternal Edition

TL and Jas are giving us peak high-park-cherry-blossom vibes, standing under a pink patterned umbrella. Jas wears black cargo capris, sliders, and a black button-down with the sleeves rolled up: TL looks ready for an awards show in a glamorous feathered pink wig, glitter dress, sheepskin slippers, and matching pink printed leggings. Both wear cloth face masks that cover their faces up to their eyes. Jas’s is grey and white striped. TL’s mask is black, mirroring the puff sleeves on their dress and their elbow-high gloves in which they hold a pink cat-shaped wine bottle tilted against their chest like a casual trophy.


Fancy Fridays Extra - May 22, 2020 Fantasy vs. Reality Long Weekend Writing Deadline Edition While it’s a sunny day, deadlines loom, so while the two work, they’ve set up their chairs by an indoor campfire constructed from a salt lamp and stones. On their lawn chairs sit piles of books topped with hats and sunglasses; black and white on Jas’s chair, bright colours on TL’s, their respective slippers and drinks posed as if they were there, sharing stories over the crackling fire. The weekly staging elements are included: the piano, the rubber tree plant, the slippers and various household items as well as the unframed print of Peter Hujar's "David Brintzenhofe in Drag" (1982)

Fancy Fridays Stage - May 22, 2020

Fantasy vs. Reality Long Weekend Writing Deadline Edition

While it’s a sunny day, deadlines loom, so while the two work, they’ve set up their chairs by an indoor campfire constructed from a salt lamp and stones. On their lawn chairs sit piles of books topped with hats and sunglasses; black and white on Jas’s chair, bright colours on TL’s, their respective slippers and drinks posed as if they were there, sharing stories over the crackling fire.

The weekly staging elements are included: the piano, the rubber tree plant, the slippers and various household items as well as the unframed print of Peter Hujar's "David Brintzenhofe in Drag" (1982).

In the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2020, we ceased creating and circulating Fancy Friday images during the critical grieving, action & organizing for Black and Indigenous Lives.

Fancy Friday #9 - October 30, 2020 Necro Whiteness Edition In the spookiest award show, Jas and TL have won and graced the stage in their finest awardwear: all black, Jas with a sash of caution tape; TL with a dried bouquet of roses. Their sheet masks sag off their faces and a torn cat toy sits by their slippered feet. To their left sits the cat-shaped awards: a pink wine bottle and a wooden sculpture. A pale, rotten-looking pumpkin sits on the surface next to them, reminding us that Halloween is only a day away.

Fancy Friday #9 - October 30, 2020

Necro Whiteness Edition
In the spookiest award show, Jas and TL have won and graced the stage in their finest awardwear: all black, Jas with a sash of caution tape; TL with a dried bouquet of roses. Their sheet masks sag off their faces and a torn cat toy sits by their slippered feet. To their left sits the cat-shaped awards: a pink wine bottle and a wooden sculpture. A pale, rotten-looking pumpkin sits on the surface next to them, reminding us that Halloween is only a day away.



Fancy Friday #10 - December 18, 2020 Nog Edition  Eggnog is back and for a limited time! Same with the high-pressure-time-crunch that is university final grades! The two take refuge by the piano, TL on the bench, and Jas standing next to them, topping up TL’s eggnog while a zoom class is open on the laptop behind them. Jas is wearing a dark ensemble, broken up with three white stripes down the side of their athletic pants, and tall blue socks in sliders. TL is wearing their sheepskin slippers and a plaid dress with pink accessories: matching socks and a pom-pom ski hat. TL’s laptop is perched on their lap as their glass fills with sweet eggy goodness. The sheet music for A Charlie Brown Christmas sits on the piano, a sign stating “allergic to patriarchy” leaning against it.

Fancy Friday #10 - December 18, 2020

Nog Edition

Eggnog is back and for a limited time! Same with the high-pressure-time-crunch that is university final grades! The two take refuge by the piano, TL on the bench, and Jas standing next to them, topping up TL’s eggnog while a zoom class is open on the laptop behind them. Jas is wearing a dark ensemble, broken up with three white stripes down the side of their athletic pants, and tall blue socks in sliders. TL is wearing their sheepskin slippers and a plaid dress with pink accessories: matching socks and a pom-pom ski hat. TL’s laptop is perched on their lap as their glass fills with sweet eggy goodness. The sheet music for A Charlie Brown Christmas sits on the piano, a sign stating “allergic to patriarchy” leaning against it.

Fancy Friday #11 December 25, 2020 Twas the night before christmas, and down in the kitchen TL and Jas stand, their hair accessories bitchin’ Surrounded by tinsel, pinecones, and sparklers; Our two heroes stand dressed in dark colours; Jas is adorned with a disco ball A happy holiday to one and to all In a festive scene, Jas and TL stand surrounded by seasonal stockings, bows, and pinecone arrangements. Jas is dressed in a black shirt, pants, socks, and sliders; a disco ball hanging from their arm, and they hand TL a lit sparkler. TL accepts the sparkler, a tinsel scarf hanging around their neck and looping down to their black pencil skirt and sheepskin slippers, their palm outstretched to the camera.

Fancy Friday #11 December 25, 2020

Twas the night before christmas, and down in the kitchen

TL and Jas stand, their hair accessories bitchin’

Surrounded by tinsel, pinecones, and sparklers;

Our two heroes stand dressed in dark colours;

Jas is adorned with a disco ball

A happy holiday to one and to all

In a festive scene, Jas and TL stand surrounded by seasonal stockings, bows, and pinecone arrangements. Jas is dressed in a black shirt, pants, socks, and sliders; a disco ball hanging from a thick red ribbon looped around their neck, and they hand TL a lit sparkler. TL accepts the sparkler, a floor-length tinsel scarf draped across their front and looped under a slipper.

Fancy Friday #12 - January 1, 2021 Fun In The Sun Edition Jas and TL have set their room up as a beach, lit with ring lights and a Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp. Under a pink and white umbrella, TL reclines like a posh sunbather, face covered by large white sunglasses and a black hat, their colourful striped swimsuit covered with a black mesh shirt and stockings with a long run to their sheepskin slippers. TL’s drink sits on a sand coloured, carpeted cat condo tower. To their right stands lifeguard Jas with black hair spiked over a visor, wearing a black muscle tee and boardshorts, tall socks and foam sliders & holding a stack of colourful plastic cups. Happy new year, beaches!

Fancy Friday #12 - January 1, 2021

Fun In The Sun Edition

Jas and TL have set their room up as a beach, lit with ring lights and a Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp. Under a red and white umbrella, TL reclines like a posh sunbather, face covered by large white sunglasses and a black hat, their colourful striped swimsuit covered with a black mesh shirt and stockings with a long run to their sheepskin slippers. TL’s drink sits on a sand coloured cat condo tower. To their right stands lifeguard Jas with black hair spiked over a visor, wearing a black muscle tee and boardshorts; tall socks and foam sliders; holding a stack of colourful plastic cups.

Happy new year, beaches!



Fancy Fridays is the first exhibit in an upcoming series, The Only Way To the Show is Through the Home, a pandemic take on Lois Weaver's The Only Way Home is Through the Show. In this series, we will be showcasing home stages, theatres, clubs and other domestic-space venues created by cabaret artists and audiences during the COVID-19 stay-at-home measures, as well as the long story of home stages in the trans- feminist and queer cabaret around the world. For more on this phenomenon, you can read Laura Boo, Jordan Arseneault and T.L. Cowan's "Cabaret Where We Live" conversation, as well as Cowan's critical Introduction to this theme.