A chat with Harley Quinn

Sometimes those elaborately costumed folk you see walking around the convention center aren't just random fans. For many, putting on the makeup and clothing is a way of life. If that's you, maybe the Gotham Public Works is for you. 

Who are they, you ask? Well, I asked Harley Quinn (a.k.a. Tara Nicole Strand) all about them, and a bit about herself.

Q: How did you get into costuming?

A: Actually, to tell you the truth I think I'm not so much into costuming as I am into dressing up as a handful of certain characters or types of people, and when I dress up I'm just really into wearing stuff that's as authentic or looks as genuine as possible! OK, I guess maybe that means I'm into costuming, huh? Sorry about that. I guess my love of fictional characters and fantasy and stuff combined with being a major perfectionist just kinda equaled "costuming"!

Q: What do you do outside of being Harley?

A: Well, I've got way too many obsessions and hobbies than I really should list off here that I try to juggle (and juggling's actually one of them), and I perform here and there as everything from a burlesque dancer to a clown in a recurring live show. I am kind of itching to rattle off the stuff I do or try to do, but I don't know if it's good reading. All I know is I have no clue what being bored is like.

Q: How/where did you hook up with Gotham Public Works?

A: Basically, about eight years ago me and our group's Batman said, "Let's make Gotham Public Works!", and I was in! We both started it up not really knowing exactly what we wanted to do or how, but we just decided to keep on putting on the suits and keep making them better and to figure it out as we went. For not having much of a game plan I'm really happy with how things have been going!

Q: How did they start and what kinds of activities do they host/attend?

A: The last answer's basically that story in a teeny tiny gist of a nutshell, and as far as activities or events we've really got nothing official we do. We just take opportunities as they come, and we don't really focus so much these days on going out in our costumes as we do with trying to make fun stuff like posters or calendars or what we intend to be a high-quality short film. Still working on it.... Not much money or spare time yet....

Q: How does one get to be in Gotham Public Works?

A: You either meet one of us or e-mail us and you look like a certain character, relate to that character, can act like that character, can deal with the process and funds of getting suited up like that character, live somewhere pretty nearby, aren't too tall for us (that's always tough - we're not very big), can put up with at least most of us, and then you're about 50% of the way! Ha! Maybe a little more.

Q: Why do you enjoy being Harley, and are there other characters you portray (or would like to)?

A: I won't go into it all right now, but since I first saw Harl about 12 or 13 years ago I was just really drawn to her and felt like we had a whole lot in common (especially the awkwardness and being a lot keener than we let on), and I finally just needed to put on that makeup and spandex! It's pretty freeing to be in her skin and to know I understand her and Joker in ways that not everybody does, and the positive reaction I've gotten from people over the years makes it sooo rewarding and even more addictive!

I'm usually thrown off when people bring up the idea of dressing as other comic book characters than Harley, 'cause I've just never really felt like it. The only other characters I consistently dress as are Alice (in Wonderland) and my pirate character, Poppy Liddell. And my burlesque and clown characters.

Q: What's Comic-Con like for you and some of your fellow performers?

A: Hectic and brimming with anxiety!!! It's always fun and such an amazing time, but all the insanity leading up to it and during it and trying to make everything work for everyone and the lack of sleep and trying to see everything and everyone and handling schedules and partying and geeking out and trying not to act like as much of a dork as you are and hoping you don't (or wishing you didn't) screw something up and remembering to eat -- it's rough! But I refuse to feel as anxious this year as usual. I've been doing this too many years to keep being psycho every second of the day. It's gonna be fun! 

--Jevon Phillips