Artists create fashions out of unconventional materials for the iConcept Runway Show
By
Heather Merriman Saba
| 1:11 p.m. February 22, 2016
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Art Center Sarasota hosted its 8th annual iConcept — an art couture runway show featuring pieces made by local artists from unconventional materials. Typically held at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, this year's event was hosted at Saks Fifth Avenue and the Mall at UTC — and it was a hit. Guests mingled throughout Saks Fifth Avenue (always a great space for a cocktail party) and when it was time to settle down before the show, the guests with reserved seating for dinner sat down at the tables surrounding the runway and the guests just there for the show gathered on the second floor where they enjoyed light bites and a view from above. Before the start of the fashion show, artists John Karl and Gwen Thomas improved a couture gown on a model, a compilation piece made from swatches from every dress being featured in the show to follow. Chaired by Barbara Banks, Terry McKee and Jordan Berger, the event raised more than $30,000 (numbers are still being crunched) for Art Center Sarasota and brought in a recording breaking crowed of more than 400 guests.
Co-Chairs Barbara Banks and Terry McKee
Art Center Sarasota's iConcept features an art couture runway show.
Rebecca Blitz and Eric Fenton
Jordan and Stephanie Hallam
Shawn Medvec, wearing a kimono designed by Alexandra Lin, with all of iConcept's sponsors and Ray Pepper
Eileen Oldwine, Francine Brown and Arletha Blackman
Jessica and Tav Ortiz
'Live from UTC, it's iConcept8'
Ingeborg Angeli models Larry Forgard's 'A Soul of Reflection' — made from plastic spoons, reflective paper and fibers
Larry Forgard's 'A Soul of Reflection' was made with plastic spoons, reflective paper and fibers.
Tessa Elizabeth Merkel models Dari Goggans's '1991 was a good year' — made from vinyl and spray paint
Megan Metcalf models Elizabeth Goodwill's 'She Who Fights for the Bunnies & Deer' — made from borax, tulle and chain
Samantha Wilson models Sheldon T. McCloud's '1,000 Meters Below' — made from aluminum foil and spray paint
Raven Peters models Stephanie Peters's 'Last Summer' — made from plastic beach rafts, palm fronds and glitter
Julia Kalinina models Andrea Silvergleit's 'Fashion Emergency'
Allyson Erwin models Sarah Viviana Valdez's 'A Figure Returning from Dust' — made from scoby (a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast ) and mycelium (a fuzzy spread-like root from mushrooms)
The runway show finale
Sally Schule, Trissi Willis and Sharon Como
George Adley and Deborah Blue
The details of the train on Samantha Kelly's dress.
Models get ready for the show backstage at Saks.
Michael Berger and Samantha Wilson
Anais Blake and Andrew McCormack
Sandra and Melvin Brown with Isabel Boniuk
Anne Cyr and Chelsea Dunbar
Nora Egan, Cherie Kinerk, Anne White, Carole Sedita and Mary Martino
Eric Fenton, Renee Phinney, Rebecca Blitz and David Wyant
Jordan and Stephanie Hallam
Candice Henry, Kelsey Alholm and Kristina Sparacino
Key lime pie was served to guests as dessert.
Barbara Lynch, Paula Brennan and Joan Ochs
Jackie Massey and Jacqueline Morton
Mike Scialdone and Co-Chair Terry McKee
Ira Goggans models Dari Goggans's '1991 was a good year' — made from Dove chocolate foil wrappers
Marina Sommer models Barbara Gunter Anderson's 'My Saks - the 1950s' — made from vintage Saks Fifth Avenue ads and labels from the 50s
Shelby Fletcher models Lisa Berger's 'Bee Swiffur' — made from Swiffer dusters, dryer sheets and silt screen
Brenna Maginess models Susan Burke's 'Bird of Paradise' — made from rubber gloves, plastic table cloths and mesh bags
Brenna Maginess models Susan Burke's 'Bird of Paradise' — made from rubber gloves, plastic table cloths and mesh bags
Ella Hillebrand models Eric Cross's 'She Sees The Sea' — made from polystyrene sheeting, paper sheeting for packing and crinkled polystyrene sheeting
Ella Hillebrand models Eric Cross's 'She Sees The Sea' — made from polystyrene sheeting, paper sheeting for packing and crinkled polystyrene sheeting
Ella Hillebrand models Eric Cross's 'She Sees The Sea' — made from polystyrene sheeting, paper sheeting for packing and crinkled polystyrene sheeting
Jean Houndsome models Marcia Ente's 'Measuring Up' — made from paper yardsticks, mailbox numbers and hand-made paper
Kelsey Green models Susan Fader's 'Up-Cycle Swing' — made from chewing gum wrappers, pet screening and rice paper
Sarah Fulton models Barbara Gerdeman's 'Femme Forte' made from Femme Rouge Magazines, lumber strapping and duct tape
Tessa Elizabeth Merkel models Dari Goggans's '1991 was a good year' — made from vinyl and spray paint
Jessica Cabrera models Samantha Kelly's 'Blooming Color' — made from Aveda hair color boxes, color tube caps and wire mesh
Jessica Cabrera models Samantha Kelly's 'Blooming Color' — made from Aveda hair color boxes, color tube caps and wire mesh
Jessica Cabrera models Samantha Kelly's 'Blooming Color' — made from Aveda hair color boxes, color tube caps and wire mesh
Jessica Cabrera and Samantha Kelly
Ali Lambert models Ali Lambert's 'Paper or Plastic' — made from paper, paint and acrylic mediums
Kathleen Wisneski models Alexandra Lin's 'A Splash of Sarasota' — made from recyclable plastic, packaging, water and Sarasota sand
Kathleen Wisneski models Alexandra Lin's 'A Splash of Sarasota' — made from recyclable plastic, packaging, water and Sarasota sand
Kathleen Wisneski models Alexandra Lin's 'A Splash of Sarasota' — made from recyclable plastic, packaging, water and Sarasota sand
Kathleen Wisneski models Alexandra Lin's 'A Splash of Sarasota' — made from recyclable plastic, packaging, water and Sarasota sand
Samantha Wilson models Sheldon T. McCloud's '1,000 Meters Below' — made from aluminum foil and spray paint
Gwen Thomas models for the special presentation by John Karl before the start of the show.
Gwen Thomas models for the special presentation by John Karl before the start of the show.
Gwen Thomas models for the special presentation by John Karl before the start of the show.
Michael O'Hara and Ray Pepper
Gwen Thomas models Ray Pepper's 'Pockets Full of Posies' — made from lace curtains, lace tablecloth and bed in a bag packaging
Michael O'Hara models Ray Pepper's 'Joan of Arc meets Prince Valiant' — made from safety pins, silver washers, onion bags and rubber shelf liner
Raven Peters models Stephanie Peters's 'Last Summer' — made from plastic beach rafts, palm fronts and glitter
Tianna Boswell models Ellen Rose, Taylor Klar and Poppy Moore's 'Pique-Nique' — made from vinyl table cloth, insulating foam strip and carpet lining cushion
Sumaya Ayad models Sharon White's 'When the chips are down, move them around' — made from poker chips and glitter, Goodwill dress
Traci Jackson models Pamela Sumner's 'Flapper Update' — made from cardboard, bungee cords and house paint
Traci Jackson models Pamela Sumner's 'Flapper Update' — made from cardboard, bungee cords and house paint
Liz Dobbins models Pamela Sumner's 'Dessert, Anyone?' — made from candy wrappers and snack food packaging
Liz Dobbins models Pamela Sumner's 'Dessert, Anyone?' — made from candy wrappers and snack food packaging
Liz Dobbins models Pamela Sumner's 'Dessert, Anyone?' — made from candy wrappers and snack food packaging
Pamela Sumner and Liz Dobbins
Kate Walsh models Lela Thompson's 'Banded' — made from rubber bands
Anita Wexler models her own 'Home De Poe' — made from blue industrial tarp and ropes
Colleen White models Colleen and David White's 'Dymaxion Dress' — made from 3,500 plastic drinking straws, Fireline Kevlar, fishing line and Matboard
Colleen White models Colleen and David White's 'Dymaxion Dress' — made from 3,500 plastic drinking straws, Fireline Kevlar, fishing line and Matboard
