FASHION GETS A REINVENTION THROUGH RE-USE, SATURDAY
AUGUST 18TH AT THE LAGUNA BEACH FESTIVAL OF ARTS 4th ANNUAL FESTIVAL RUNWAY FASHION SHOW.
Designed by Festival Artist W. Bradley Elsberry, model Erika Baldwin
2011 First Place Winner and People’s Choice Winner
Laguna Beach, CA — Fashion will enjoy a reinvention on Saturday August 18th from 1 – 4pm when the crowd-awing Festival Runway Fashion Show returns to the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.
Now in its fourth year strutting down the runway, the Festival Runway Fashion Show rules are well known: Festival of Arts exhibiting artists are welcome to compete for cash prizes by designing the most imaginative “found” design, where at least 80% of materials used are reclaimed, reused or recycled. A three-judge panel (including one celebrity known for his or her high style) chooses the grand prize winner, while the crowd gets to cast their vote for the “People’s Choice Award”.
2012 Festival Fashion Runway Judge, Jeannie Mai, the host of the
Style Channel’s popular fashion makeover show “How Do I Look?”
The judges this year hail from sophisticated textile and artistic fashion backgrounds, including LACMA Curator of Costumes and Textiles, Kaye Spilker, and Jeannie Mai, the host of the Style Channel’s popular fashion makeover show “How Do I Look?”. Jerry Penacoli of Extra! TV returns in 2012 as host.
“Festival Runway Fashion is quickly becoming a signature Festival of Arts event,” said Susan Davis, director of special events for the Festival of Arts. “Every year seems to up the ante, and this year won’t disappoint!”
In 2011 audience and judges alike were amazed by the winning design, which was a full-length, grand wedding dress that came off layer by layer to reveal a sexy miniskirt bodice… all in cellophane. The 2010 winner was a form fitted, floor length gown of fallen eucalyptus bark accented by berries, with a set of wings attached to the back that spread to a span of five feet as the model moved down the runway. Both designs were the invention of painter and Festival exhibitor Bradley Elsberry. In the inaugural competition of 2009 the win was taken by artist team Barbara Hendricks and Luciano Bortone, who repurposed old Pageant of the Masters programs and plastic forks to create a strapless gown accented with a glamorous hat worthy of Del Mar.
This year, artists will compete for four possible titles: “Most Creative Concept,” “Most Exciting Ensemble,” “Most Innovative Use of Materials” and “Most Wearable to Next Year’s FOA Exhibit Opening Night Party”. Each title carries a $1,000 cash prize. The “People’s Choice Award” carries no monetary prize but it just may be the most sought-after award of the competition.
Competing for the top prize are artists Luciano Bortone, Dagmar Chaplin, Bradley Elsberry, Michelle Lance, Rick Graves, Adam Neeley, Jon Seeman, John Tolle, and Annette Wimmer. Who will take prizes and earn highly coveted bragging rights in 2012?
Designed by Festival Artist Adam Neely, model Alicia Chavex
2011 Second Place Winner
Festival visitors are invited to find out on August 18th from 1-4pm at the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Festival guests can enjoy the Festival Runway Fashion Show for free with Festival admission ($10 for adults, $6 for seniors and students; free admission for children 12 and under, Military, and Laguna Beach residents).
DATES AND ADMISSION
The Festival of Arts is open daily from July 1 – August 31, 2012, from 10am to 11:30pm (August 25, 10am to 3:30pm). General Admission: Weekdays $7, Weekends $10; Students & Seniors: Weekdays $4, Weekends $6; Free Admission for Children 12 and under, Military, and Laguna Beach Residents.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Acura, Cox Communications, Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, and The Orange County Register. The Festival of Arts is a non-profit organization that produces The Festival of Arts – California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. For general information, call (949) 494-1145 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
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Meghan Perez
Media contact: Sharbie Higuchi, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Festival of Arts • 650 Laguna Canyon Road • Laguna Beach, CA 92651
