The Making of Loretta Monetta

By David Rose

I love playing dress ups
The project that became the Museum of Moving Art was in development for two and a half years before the idea came to make it a role-playing game, however, the need for theatricality has always been there. Playing has been a key - the term surfaced in journalling and in contemplation of my art practice (ironically as I started to take the potential for a future in visual arts seriously). The real break through came though, when I discovered Lori Marie Jenkins on YouTube, whilst researching changed books.

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While art therapy had emphasized "trust the process", Lorri Marie affirmed and encouraged my growing need to play. So when it came to name my drag character for MOMA, "Loretta Monetta" came to me: it had a lovely ring to it and I went on to think that the name might serve to homage and parody - in a loving way - Lorri Marie, mixed media artist from Valejo, California. Lorri Marie was like a shining star to me in the way that Bette Midler had been for me in my youth. In many ways she was everything I wanted to be, and her artworks resonated with me so deeply.

Because I love Writing
Because I love writing, there has to be some depth to the character. I knew straight away that Loretta Monetta would have a backstory and a composite personality - that she would to some extent represent women that I admire, even fictitious ones like Dame Edna Everage. .... .............. ...................... ............................. ........................................ ..................... ............ .......... ......... ...... ....... ..... . .... . . . ............ . . ........... ...... . ... ......... ...