Columbus Arts Festival to Present Fashion as Art Runway Show on Genoa Park Main Stage
For immediate release
May 8, 2023Contact: Jami Goldstein
jgoldstein@gcac.org
(614) 221-8492
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Arts Festival, presented by the American Electric Power Foundation and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), will host a fashion show organized by local designer, fiber artist and GCAC board member Celeste Malvar-Stewart on the Genoa Park Main Stage on Friday, June 9 at 8 p.m.
Fashion as Art is a runway show featuring four Columbus-based designers whose fashion intentionally intersects with art. Each designer will show eight looks on models on the runway and one look on a mannequin at the Friday night Patron Party at The Junto as a sneak peek.
In exploring fashion as art, the designers will be showcasing unique and avant-garde pieces that demonstrate high-end fashion and couture that expresses artistry in fashion. The runway show will feature Columbus-based artists such as DJ Pastel, as well as hair and makeup team Hairchitecture.
The fashion artists represent a mixture of established and up-and-coming designers:
- Tracy Powell with The House of Isa
- Yuqi “Crystal” Zhang with YǓNIVERSE
- Casey Immel-Brown, a recent graduate from the Columbus College of Art & Design
- Celeste Malvar-Stewart with MALVAR = STEWART
“I’m so excited to be able to include the art of fashion in this year’s Columbus Arts Festival,” said Malvar-Stewart. “So often, fashion isn’t really considered when we think about art, especially contemporary art; however, in many instances, fashion intersects with art, and it’s exciting to be able to showcase four Columbus-based designers whose collections reveal this intersection beautifully.”
“I think placing fashion at the forefront is a perfect addition to the Columbus Arts Festival,” says Festival Director Alexis Perrone. “We’re especially happy to feature the work of Columbus designers, makeup and hair artists, and models – all on the main stage alongside great musicians and performers throughout the weekend.”
The four designers are hosting a model call on Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the AEP Building at 1 Riverside Plaza downtown. Interested models can attend any time, and must bring an ID, wear form-fitting clothing and bring heels if appropriate.
Festival Hours: Friday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Please note: on Friday and Saturday artist booths close at 9 p.m.; artists have the option to stay open later.)
To volunteer at the Columbus Arts Festival, please go to columbusartsfestival.org/engage/volunteer/.
For more information on the Columbus Arts Festival, call (614) 221-8625 or visit columbusartsfestival.org.
Download the Columbus Arts Festival app through the Apple app store or Google Play at guidebook.com/app/cafg/.
For a selection of high-res images, visit the Festival’s press media page.
The Columbus Arts Festival is produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The 2023 Columbus Arts Festival is presented by the American Electric Power Foundation. Additional sponsors and partners include Art for Life, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Battelle, Cardinal Health, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, COSI, Deloitte, Encova, Graeter’s, High Bank Distillery, Holiday Inn Downtown, Hotel LeVeque, Huntington, IGS Energy, JP Morgan Chase, The Junto, King Business Interiors, ML Concessions, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, OSA Technology Partners, Paul-Henri and Erika Bourguignon Charitable Trust, Pepsi, Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center, Rhinegeist, Toyota, The Westin Great Southern Columbus, White Castle and Whole World Lemonade. Media sponsors include ABC6/FOX28, CD92.9, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor, Ohio Magazine, Orange Barrel Media, RSVP, WCBE, WOSU Public Media and WSNY/Mix 107.9.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the city of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University. There are no funds from the city of Columbus, Franklin County or Ohio Arts Council used to support the production of the Columbus Arts Festival.
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