The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

Fash|Art, one of the biggest fashion and art events on the local entertainment calendar, is only two days away. Organisers promise, the event this weekend will be bigger and better than last year, during the inaugural showing.

Now a two day event, Friday will feature the Jackson Burnside Emerging Visual Artist showcase at the Public Treasury Building, where fashion designer Theodore Elyett will also showcase his 2013 fashion collection.

Guests will be treated to a cocktail reception and after party at Bambu nightclub, hosted by Dj Ignite and Absolut Vodka.

Saturday night events, dubbed “Fashion Next”, will be held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. The Harl Taylor Emerging Fashion Designer showcase will take centre stage, as well as the Next Face Model Competition hosted by PTG Modelling Agency and Profiles98.

Fashion designers competing for the title of “Harl Taylor Emerging Fashion Designer”  include Kishanna Johnson, Cardell McCall and Christopher John, Kenria Smith, Nykarlio Ferguson, Avis Wood-Munroe and Shaquille Johnson. Visual artist competing for the Jackson Burnside  Lesean Bowe, Mecko Gibson, Andrew Weech, Verna Wood, Attila Feszt and Selina Sweeting.

Winners of the Stylezine People Choice Awards will also be unveiled on Saturday night. The top five nominees in fashion art and entertainment were selected by a secret panel of experts sharing over 40 years of experience. The nominees were chosen based on their consistency, talent and creativity.

“The clear difference between this year’s and last year’s event is the fact that we have added an additional night. We have made the art show free and exciting to encourage the Bahamian populace to experience and attend art shows. We want to engage a wider audience and create an “over the top” experience for everyone attending the event,” said event producer Kedar Clarke.

“Everyone loves a fashion show and we have worked with the country’s best production company (Zamar Group) to produce a super event. Also, our production partner, Stylezine magazine is using the event platform as a channel to introduce its inaugural People’s Choice Awards, highlighting local talent in fashion, art and entertainment in the Bahamas,” said Mr Clarke.

From the event’s inception the goal has always been to bring together artists of all disciplines and provide a platform, he said.

“Our goal of Fash|Art is to provide an opportunity to gain exposure for new and emerging talent in visual arts and fashion design, while helping to cultivate and acclimate them to the wider industries. Moving forward we want to add events that will eventually expand the days into an entire week of fashion and art related activities.”

“We have made connections on the international front and hope to continue doing so in order to foster an even stronger community of fashion and art within the Bahamas.”

Leading up to the event, Fash|Art producers have hosted a seminar series where participants learned about art as a business, branding, merchandising and inspiration. The second week of the seminar series featured photographer Scharad Lightbourne, who provided the participants with helpful tips about brand identity, social media, using technology, promotion and educating consumers.

This year’s event sponsored is BMW International.