PARK4JAPAN Presented by The Gerry Thomas Gallery Preview Part Three

Thursday, April 7 · 6:00pm - 11:00pm

At The Gerry Thomas Gallery

602 11 Avenue SW

Calgary, AB

Tickets $30 18+

Silent Auction featuring several local designers & artists

Art Exhibition presenting works from Chris Sattlegger, Kasia Adrian & Cindy Wagner

Exclusive Show Room Presentation of Caitlin Power's A/W 2011 Collection 

Tonight's the night! I've been giving you a few peeks at the who's who of awesome people donating items to tonight's silent auction for Japan, but just to turn it up past eleven I thought I'd share the full list of who has donated items (and send them a HUGE thank you for helping us put this together for this important cause).

PARK SENDS A GIANT THANK YOU TO THESE DONORS!

DANCECALGARY.COM

ALBERTADANCESPORT.COM

CHRIS SATTLEGGER photographer

KASIA ADRIAN, artist

CINDY WAGNER, artist

KELLY LANNAN

PJ SHIELDS

TIEN HOANG

Plus we have to thank these awesome people and companies that have helped us make this happen:

SHEA DAVID SKY

And of course, our presenters and partners in this event,

Arigato and konichiwa- see you tonight!

Bellissima for Japan

When we said we were inspired by the big hearts to be found in Calgary, we were very serious. Example: there are some great Calgary businesses reaching out to help those affected by the tragedy in Japan, and we were happy to find out from our friend Ania B. (and PARK4JAPAN collaborator) that local fashion stop Bellissima is one of them.

If you follow the link by clicking on the image above or the banner on the side of this blog, and then "like" the Bellissima facebook page, the store will donate $1 to Doctors without Borders to aid relief efforts in Japan. We love supporting local fashion in the city and connecting Calgarians with local places to shop, but we think it's even better to find fashion with a conscience. 

PARK4JAPAN Presented by The Gerry Thomas Gallery

Disaster and tragedy strike without any notice. When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, the world could only watch time stop as we felt the pain of the thousands of people affected from afar... and then it was time to take action.

Our mandate as PARK is to build culture in our city, and the best culture building often comes through the beats of that big old heart muscle of our city. Thankfully, in no time, PARK's awesome contacts and collective of creatives, artists, designers and generally, people who throw their heart into anything they do, are stepping up to put together an event with our good friends at the Gerry Thomas Gallery. It's time to do something local to help this global tragedy.

PARK4JAPAN 
Presented by The Gerry Thomas Gallery

Thursday, April 7 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm

The Gerry Thomas Gallery

602 11 Avenue SW

Calgary, AB

Silent Auction featuring several local designers & artists

Art Exhibition

Exclusive Show Room Presentation of Caitlin Power's A/W 2011 Collection

Tickets $30 (Available at the door or online here: www.tickettrunk.com/buy/850)

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Appetizers will be provided

18+ Event

All profits from the event, all proceeds from the silent auction, and 10% of gallery art work sold will be donated to the Red Cross to aid victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami

Visit our event on Facebook to RSVP and get updates, and get news in real time through our twitter. The best thing you can bring is your heart- but please feel free to contact PARK if you'd like to participate through donation or any other sort of contribution!

Special thanks to the collaborators who truly showed how big their hearts are by stepping up to take part in this event:
Gerry Thomas Gallery
Ania B
Jason Eng Photography
Shea Kearwood Photographer and Graphic Designer
Jennie Lyle Fashion Stylist
hedkandi salon, hair stylists Kristin Page and Kate Gonzalez, and MUA Julia D'angelo

 We hope to see you there!

Winter 2011 Fashion Industry Mixer

Speaking of love- we are still blushing from all the love shared amongst the Calgary fashion community.

There are awesome people creating and running the beautiful and blooming business of fashion here, and on Wednesday February 9, 2011 we had the best time co-hosting our very first Fashion Industry Mixer with our good friends from Sophia Models, Conglomerate Magazine and The Gerry Thomas Gallery. Amongst the incredible featured photography by Jason Eng, Faby Martin and Chris Sattlegger, the live set by Davidson Liau and fresh bevvys, there were a whole lot of good-looking people with even greater looking perspectives on fashion in Calgary.

The interest in and attendance for our first mixer was astounding, and it was truly inspiring  to see just how passionate the people in this creative industry are about making their mark on our growing city. It's no wonder that Calgary is starting to stand out on the fashion stage in a global way.

Besides all the opportunities to meet and chat with the people who are the beating heart and pulse of fashion in the city, I also came to our event with the intent to photograph the best dressed. Knowing that Calgary's finest in fashion would deliver, I wasn't disappointed! 

What did I see on parade, you ask? Lots of fur: real and faux, prints, sequins, skyscaper heels and even some bits and pieces of dressed up denim for those who let their the true Canadian in them show . Feast your eyes:

   

   

   

The impeccably dressed aside, the mixer did exactly what it came to do: it brought people in the indusry closer together. Whether it was bumping into someone who knew someone, rekindling old acquaintances or meeting new creative minds to collaborate with - everyone I spoke to said they had a great time. Truth: the whole mission of P.A.R.K. is to create opportunities for creatives in Calgary to meet and grow dynamic new relationships, and the sentiment of the people who attended this event embodied that mission perfectly. I look forward to see the spark this mixer may have ignited and to see what new creative ventures will be popping up in the near future!

A special thanks has to go to everyone at our above and beyond venue, The Gerrry Thomas Gallery, our awesome partners Sophia Models and Conglomerate Magazine, the incredible model for our promotional materials, Ania B. (www.aniab.net), our amazing P.A.R.K. interns and everyone who attended. I think we could get used to these magical mingling opportunities- where should we do it next?

More photos+info after the jump