Capital City Arts Initiative
   
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The Nevada Queen

From the runway of the CCAI Recycled Seconds Benefit Cocktail Party & Fashion Show. Classy Seconds, Carson City, Nevada. October 16, 2009.



Community Is A Verb.

Many of the outfits included in the courthouse exhibition were first showcased on the runway by the dozen or so models participating in the show. In the weeks leading up to the show, Classy Seconds provided workspace to the designers on its shop floor, as well as unlimited access to the store’s ever-changing inventory of used clothing. Visitors could see the designers at work, and grasp a sense of the immediacy and accessibility of this active approach to fashion.

The collaboration with Classy Seconds adds a heightened social dimension to the overall project. The store services an eclectic range of clients: families seeking affordable, low-cost clothing for work and school; hipsters in search of new additions to their snappy wardrobes; and entrepreneurs looking to find inexpensive product to resell – online or in for-profit second-hand stores. Classy Seconds works tirelessly to meet the needs of these clients, and yet generously found the time to help as well with this project. CCAI is grateful to Lisa Lee, Advocates To End Domestic Violence Executive Director; and Karen Thorpe, Store Manager for their time and dedication.

Additional elements of Recycled Seconds include two visits to northern Nevada as part of Nevada Neighbors, CCAI's signature program with out-of-state artists and curators. In addition to meetings with artists and presentations in area schools, Dr. Rachel Williams of The University of Iowa, and Wendy Tremayne, creator of Swap-O-Rama-Rama [4], gave public talks at the Carson City Library.

Classy Seconds and CCAI also teamed up to create an October display at the Library in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

During 2010, CCAI also plans to host an event with AEDV Director Lisa Lee to discuss her remarkable work with, and vision for, AEDV and Classy Seconds.

DIY fashion workshops, free and open to the public, are also in the planning stages. As advertised: "Halter tops from men's dress shirts, rings from silverware, cocktail dresses from tee-shirts within the creative reach of all."

Finally CCAI extends thanks to all of its Recycled Seconds partners, its supporters, and as always, Maxine Cortes and the Courthouse staff for hosting the gallery.

Jon Winet
Carson City, Nevada & Berkeley, California
Fall 2009

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Additional Resources and Information

* CCAI Recycled Seconds Benefit Cocktail Party & Fashion Show Picture Album

* For additional information on Recycled Seconds and past, current and future programs of the Capital City Arts Initiative, readers are invited to visit the organization online:

CCAI Website
CCAI Blog
CCAI Facebook Fan Page

* Additional information on Advocates to End Domestic Violence and Classy Seconds is available on the AEDV website.

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4. A visit to the website for Swap-O-Rama-Rama is recommended for those who want to learn about this terrific project. Staged around the world, it’s a blend of community activism, DIY fashion production at warp speed, and all around fun. The site also links to additional information on Ms. Tremayne. [back]




 

 

 

page revised: November 22, 2009 08:45 PDT [gmt - 08:00]