Palmer wearable art show on, then off, now on again

Feb. 27, 2007

BY DIMITRA LAVRAKAS

Frontiersman

PALMER - Like the sputtering start-up of your car on a subzero morning, the Palmer Arts Council's first-ever wearable art show has sprung to life.

Again.

The PAC board had voted to postpone the March 3 show just a week ago because of perceived low turnout, but that was the result of a miscommunication about the number of participants and production arrangements, said board member Carmen Summerfield.

She thought that was wrong, and the board has since rethought its decision.

&#8220You make a promise to the community and you put it on, no matter what - the credibility of the organization was at stake,” she said.

Summerfield was not at the Feb. 19 meeting, as her job as a pilot for Northeast Airlines often takes her out of the country. She is the executive producer of the event with assistance from Myriah Moore of Runway 49 in Palmer.

&#8220If I had been there, it would not have happened,” she said. &#8220It's not fair to the artists who take the time making the creations. The board has already apologized.”

Although the arts council lost money presenting the week of Valentine activities and was hesitant to possibly lose more, Summerfield said that shouldn't matter.

What does, she said, is that the arts council serve the community.

Mimi Pippel, board president of the nonprofit arts organization, said, &#8220While that is true to a certain extent, realistically, there are bills that have to be paid. It is our goal to make a profit, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.”

Fellow board member Howard Bess, who initiated the call to postpone the show, could not be reached for comment Monday.

So far, more than 15 people have signed up for the show after the application deadline was extended. Entries will continue to be accepted through Wednesday, according to an e-mail from

Summerfield.

Interested people can drop off applications at &#8220Anything Goes/Runway 49,” 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 12, at The Shopping Center at Keybank Plaza, or call 746-4994 for more information.

The Valley's first wearable art show, &#8220Truth or Dare,” debuts at the Palmer Depot at 7 p.m. March 3.

Tickets are $15, which includes an opportunity to taste some &#8220edible

culinary arts.”

The tickets are available at Fireside Books in Palmer, Town Square Art Gallery in Wasilla and Metro Music in Anchorage.

&#8220It's going to be a great event. I know in Southeast it's huge,” said Pippel.

Contact Dimitra Lavrakas at 352-2269 or valleylife@

frontiersman.com.