Skyline Rocks

Fashion Art Show

Interview by Pam Taylor.

Published: Monday, November 2, 2009

Christel Highland

I think now, more than ever, is a time to support and buy local everything. Let's make and keep some money here in our fair city. As a person who recently moved back to KC after being away, I must tell you that this city has un-mined and un-marketed gifts to offer the world. Our artists, musicians, and performances are competitive on an international level; and the history that fuels it all is unbelievably rich. Jazz? Mobs? Architecture? It's all so real and so alluring, and it's time to make the most of what we have to offer—while marketing it properly.—Christel Highland

On Friday, November 6, 6-9 PM, the Kansas City fashion scene will be rocked by a stone cold fox. Christel Highland, curator of the fashion art show, Skyline Rocks, has staged an event with the best view in town—inside and out—at the gorgeous space of Skyline Salon at 2001 Grand Boulevard.

The outside view of Skyline Salon is definitively one of the best jaw-dropping panoramas of Kansas City; however, this First Friday it’s the fashion installation inside that will cause the gasps and awe. In a celebration of the beginning of the holiday season, Skyline Salon and Highland will present an evening of fashion, live music, great food, and drink with a rock and roll vibe.

Inspired by the rock photography of Todd Zimmer, and Patrick Deveny's guitar straps, Highland envisioned an event in which folks could enjoy a rockin’ good time, meet some local artists, and partake in some of the best holiday shopping of the season.

Highland says, “We are following the art show model. All of these folks are true artists who have conceived this work and have brought it to life. They will be present to discuss their work with potential buyers. There will there will be food and wine flowing, and Arlan (one of the owners) is the best DJ I know. I will be dancing around all night! I'm hoping we have a spontaneous sort of fashion show with folks trying stuff on.”

After inquiring with all her designer contacts with an opportunity to show-and-sell, Highland says, “I wound up with a delightfully eclectic mix of designers and artists with something for every taste and style, really.”

In selecting the work to be shown, Highland required that the pieces be exceedingly creative and well-made. She says, “I wanted to make sure that there was a variety of fashionable gifts that could be purchased for men and women at a nice variety of price points (from $20 on up in a “reasonable” range). The idea is that anybody—boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or friend—could come in and get holiday shopping done in one stop.”

Highland shares, “There were so many more artists that I wanted to include that I just didn't have the time to pursue, but I am hopeful that the Skyline Salon owners will invite me back, and that other boutiques in town will allow me the opportunity to bring a mix of local artists to showcase in my renegade curatorial fashion.

“I think now, more than ever, is a time to support and buy local everything. Let's make and keep some money here in our fair city. As a person who recently moved back to KC after being away, I must tell you that this city has un-mined and un-marketed gifts to offer the world. Our artists, musicians, and performances are competitive on an international level; and the history that fuels it all is unbelievably rich. Jazz? Mobs? Architecture? It's all so real and so alluring, and it's time to make the most of what we have to offer—while marketing it properly. I feel certain that KC can become a cultural gem that gains an international spotlight and tourist draw—which all means more money.”

Highland shares what she felt was most exciting about several of the showing artists and their work:

Janay Andrews, Janay A: "Janay is showing a bunch of adorable hair accessories this time around. She produces wedding dresses and other designs that are exceedingly high in quality. Truly some of the best construction I've seen. She recently got into eco-friendly fabrics and they are really gorgeous."

Janet Beasing and Patrick Deveny, JayKco: "These two blasted onto the KC music scene about the same time I was with Pistol Threads. They've managed to get their sweet guitar straps on some of the biggest musical acts to hit KC as well as a lot of killer local acts, mostly through their connections with the lovely folks down at Midwestern Musical Company. Janet and Patrick are real sweethearts to boot. But, yeah, their straps rock."

A. Laura Brody, Dreams by Machine: "Laura and I go way back. We worked the Colorado Shakespeare Festival together, gosh, almost ten years ago. She lives in L.A., and works with huge stars. Most recently, she worked with Cirque d' Soleil, and was flown to Milan for performance draping. She's one of the most talented costumers I know. Anyway, this stuff is so unbelievable you have to see it. Layers of leather, cuffs, chokers, and I'm even showing a badass leather bra. It's steampunk, and rock and roll, and just super sexy. The inclusion of her stuff was a no-brainer for this show."

Kristopher Clark and Christel Highland, KC Rocked: "Joel Clark (a.k.a. Kristopher- he has an art name, he's cooler than me) is one of my favorite abstract painters in town. He works a lot with really textures, patterns, vibrant colors, and drips. The drips are the most deliberate things, while seemingly accidental, and I adore it. Anyway, we're rocking out some reclaimed denim. I'm reworking the silhouettes, shredding, bleaching, and dyeing. Then Joel is doing his thing, and I'm super excited about our collaboration. I hope KC receives it well!"