Photos: Suzanne Heintz leaves Chauncey the mannequin at the altar

More than a decade ago, Starz art director Suzanne Heintz decided there was a way to have a family and her freedom, too: She acquired a set of mannequins, including make-believe husband Chauncey and daughter Mary Margaret, and began photographing herself in vignettes with them for a project she calls...

By Susan Froyd

June 18, 2014

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

More than a decade ago, Starz art director Suzanne Heintz decided there was a way to have a family and her freedom, too: She acquired a set of mannequins, including make-believe husband Chauncey and daughter Mary Margaret, and began photographing herself in vignettes with them for a project she calls Life Once Removed. This past Monday, she staged the greatest scenario ever in the project's history: A formal renewal of wedding vows at the elegant Grant Humphreys Mansion, with a mixture of human and plastic guests.

The joke's on Chauncey, though: Heintz took advantage of her place at the wedding podium to discuss her thoughts on commitment and her chosen life of spinsterhood, and left the poor mock man stiffly standing at the altar. Photographer Danielle Lirette was front and center to capture these images from the performance/celebration.

Continue reading for more photos from Suzanne Heintz's mannequin marriage.

Continue reading for more photos from Suzanne Heintz's mannequin marriage. Continue reading for more photos from Suzanne Heintz's mannequin marriage.

See the full slide show of Suzanne Heintz's wedding here. Learn more about the artist and Life Once Removed on her website and Facebook page.

Follow @WestwordCulture

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

Contact: Susan Froyd

Follow:

Facebook: sosfrojd

Twitter: @sosfrojd