I had the privilege to participate in San Francisco State University's Fall 2006 Runway Challenge. The competition asked that we create a garment representational of a current popular figure. I had just currently been working on a croquet project, "rummy the rat", in which I was using Donald Rumsfield as a character base. Since I enjoyed the political statement I was working with, I decided to see what form it could take in fabric.
I decided to make a gown that would be worthy of wear in a military ball, and "rummy's ball" was born. This is a statement of responsibility on Rumsfield's part for the needless lives lost.