The tutu in The Tutu Project didn’t initially stand for anything specific—it wasn't originally meant to have deep meaning. Instead, it became a symbol of transformation and vulnerability. When Bob moved to NYC, he was in an unfamiliar environment, facing fears and uncertainty. Wearing the tutu and photographing himself was a way to push through that discomfort and embrace vulnerability through art. He had no idea where this would lead, but it became a powerful expression of facing fears head-on. Bob’s journey in the tutu became the driving force, bringing humor and hope to his wife and to breast cancer patients while helping others transform difficult emotions into something positive.
The gathering will invite artists to explore and share how they would incorporate the tutu—or its shape and form—into their chosen medium, expressing themes like love, hope, facing fears, vulnerability, an illness of a loved one; similar themes in Bob’s work but using their own experiences. The idea is to take this symbol, which originally had no specific meaning, and reimagine it in their own creative ways. The goal is to demonstrate that the tutu, like any symbol, can be transformed into something deeply meaningful through each artist’s unique vision.