Anything goes this Thursday at the upcoming Anything But Clothes 2.0 fashion show at The Pine Barn Inn which benefits the Danville Arts Council. We sat down with Tom Seay from the Arts Council to find out what is in store for this unique event happening in Danville.
Art of PA: So Tom, I understand one of your biggest fundraisers for the year is right around the corner. Can you tell me more about ABC 2.0?
Tom: Absolutely. The Anything But Clothes event is entering its second year and we have a great evening of entertainment featuring a red carpet runway fashion show, recycled items, music, drinks and appetizers. The only stipulation for the fashion show is that any non-purchased item may be used in the creation of some alternative clothing. It’s like upcycling for the sake of fashion.
AoP: That sounds awesome. So since this is your second year, will we see some of last years participants again?
Tom: It’s actually a nice mix of new and returning participants. Submissions keep coming in so I’m always excited to see the sense of creativity in our community, every time I check our groups email.
AoP: And I understand you’ll be awarding some prizes and bragging rights for the best dressed?
Tom: That is correct, we are allowing teams of up to three members to collaborate on their fashion pieces. Teams will receive t-shirts and the Grand prize and all the bragging rights will go to the team whose ensemble has the most votes. The only catch is that all voters, including friends and family must be present. We also have an expert judge, Karen Anselm who is a Professor of Theatre with a specialization in Costume Design from Bloomsburg University, to help oversee everything.
AoP: That is great that you have an expert on hand. So how did the idea of using anything but clothes for fashion come about?
Tom: Well as an Art Council we’d put on some sort of an annual event as a way to thank our sponsors, but the format usually involved asking artists for art donations that we could raffle off. As an artist, that gets kind of old as artists are always being asked to donate their work. So the Arts Council put their heads together and looked around on the internet for creative fundraising event ideas. They found a group up in New York that puts on an annual non traditional fashion show. With that concept in mind, we turned it into a fun upcycling type of an event. It is a must see event that is well worth the price of admission.
AoP: Ah yes, we didn’t go over ticket prices. Can you elaborate on how much they are and where they can be purchased? Also where does the money raised from the event go?
Tom: Tickets are $15 in advance and are available at the Danville Business Alliance 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday at 620 Mill St, Danville PA, or can be purchased at the door for $20. We’ll also have a $1 raffle that features donations of gift cards and goodies from local businesses. All of the money raised from the event goes to the arts council. This fundraiser helps us to continue to host events that promote the arts in our region. We host dances, movie nights, and visual arts exhibitions for adults and students alike. We are nurturing the creative spirits of adults and children, supporting artists in every possible way, and celebrating their successes. We will stand as the partners and supporters of arts education and, by embracing the heritage of our region, we are proud to add to its growth and vitality.
AoP: Well that sounds like a great event supporting a great cause. Thanks for taking the time to chat and I hope you see a lot of familiar and even some new faces at The Pine Barn Inn.
Tom: Thanks, we can’t wait til Thursday and can’t wait to see the creativity on the runway!