Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/933080
Winter 2018 The Costume Designer 11 It's hard to believe our first CDG Awards were held 20 years ago. The cover of our magazine is a tribute to 20 years of CDG Career Achievement Award honorees. It fills me with pride to see so many of our talented colleagues being honored for their work in Costume Design. Our first two honorees were Albert Wolsky and Bob Mackie, and it's a testament to their amazing talent that both of them are still working and creating their artistry two decades later. One of the reasons we wanted to have an awards show was to spotlight the incredible art of Cos- tume Design. From the humble beginnings of our first show where we hoped people would attend, to the sold-out event it has become today, we are so proud to be able to celebrate Costume Design in all its forms each year. We have set the standard for Costume Design awards. We were the first to give awards in multiple categories, honoring Contemporary, Period, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Short Form Design, as the artistry in each category is specific and shouldn't compete against each other. There is no greater sense of accomplishment than to be celebrated by your peers for doing the work you love. This year, we honor the career of Joanna Johnston, a prolific Costume Designer who has designed some of the most iconic costumes in cinematic history, including Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump, Love Actually, and Lincoln. Joanna's career is a masterclass in Costume Design. The CDG Awards also give us the opportunity to honor our collaborators. This year's Distinguished Collaborator is director Guillermo del Toro, a true artist, who has created many worlds where Costume Designers are able join him and create characters that complete his vision. A great collaborator inspires us to create our best work, and Guillermo is a constant source of inspiration. Our Spotlight honoree is the stylish and elegant Kerry Washington, an actor who makes our designs sparkle. Throughout her career, she has been a muse to so many of us. The Distinguished Service Award goes to someone who is a great asset and support to us, Maggie Schpak from Studio Art and Metal. Maggie has been a magical godmother to us all, and has spent her career fabricating spectacular works of art that bring our designs to life. This year's awards will be so special. I hope to see you all on February 20 to celebrate the art of Costume Design. In solidarity, Salvador Perez sperez@cdgia.com PRESIDENT'S LETTER UNION LABEL "It's such an incredible experience to have the honor to be able to interact with so many people while you're on a creative team telling a story. In an amazing way, it's like living a thousand different lives." –Marlene Stewart