It began for me on a brisk October night in Detroit in 2008. I’d been invited to photograph a friend’s band play at what they’d described simply as a backyard Halloween party. Though I was initially hesitant because it was happening in an unfamiliar, desolate part of the city, I took a chance — a decision that ignited my passion for documenting the annual masquerade spectacular, Theatre Bizarre, the focus of this body of work.

Since its founding Theatre Bizarre has evolved from an illegal underground party to a highly regarded immersive art installation on an unprecedented scale. The event, which now takes place at the Detroit Masonic Temple each October, draws in thousands of attendees from around the world and provides a stage for hundreds of performers — musicians, acrobats, sideshow, burlesque performers, and more. Beyond the revelry, this event has for me become a symbol of pure artistic expression — creativity for creativity’s sake. This is what compels me to return each year to document the collaborative creative efforts of the people who come together to build something larger than themselves.