Art Meets Fashion
The Austrian Cultural Forum in Washington, D.C. held its annual, exclusive event, Art meets Fashion. More than 400 people - from music lovers to art admirers and fashionistas - enjoyed an unforgettable evening in support of a worthy cause.
This year’s show included a mix of extravagant paintings by Austrian artist Ulrike Kaiser and breathtaking creations by fashion designer Anelia Peschev.
While enjoying drinks and great music by Austrian DJane Martina Kaiser, the audience’s attention was seized by young models, including Miss U.S. International 2010 Cassandra Tressler, Miss D.C. 2006 Kate Michael and Miss Maryland 2011 Allyn Rose, dressed in pieces from Peschev’s Klimtflorum collection and strutting down the long catwalk, which was set up in the center of the Embassy’s sky-lit atrium.
Designer Anelia Peschev, who has her roots in Bulgaria but now lives and works in Vienna, has a solid, modern approach to her work and impresses audiences with her exquisite style which is reminiscent of fin-de-siècle Vienna and clearly shows influences of the famous artist Gustav Klimt. The Austrian Cultural Forum Washington seized this opportunity to honor and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of this universal genius.
With her installations, Ms. Peschev has travelled all over the world, including the vibrant fashion hot spots New York City and Paris. Another highlight of the evening was the exhibition Earth, Water and Air by Austrian artist Ulrike Kaiser.
Her paintings, which were on display in the Embassy’s atrium, are characterized by a unique feeling for composition, shading and color and often depict important people from Mrs. Kaiser’s immediate surroundings, including family members, friends, and sometimes herself. Her works, which are “snap-shots of human life”, as the artist herself puts it, have been displayed in various galleries in Vienna and Washington, D.C.
Her exhibition at the Embassy was arranged by Mrs. Kaiser’s friend Judy Southerland, a curator of fine art and teacher at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C. After the fashion show, guests, including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter Christina, hit the dance floor to celebrate the music by famous DJ Tom from Prague, who has established himself as one of the leading DJs in the Czech capital’s vibrant club scene.
Art meets Fashion is an annual charity event to benefit a good cause. This year the proceeds of the evening went to Life Pieces to Masterpieces - creating art… changing lives! Founded in 1996, this nonprofit organization is a comprehensive youth development and education program which provides youngsters an opportunity to discover and express their inner creative abilities. For more information on this program please visit www.lifepieces.org.