Fashion, art collide at Buskirk

More than 40 local businesses will celebrate the history and future of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in style with Fashion + Function + Art.\nThe people working to make the evening a success for the Buskirk-Chumley have a simple message: "The party begins at 6:30, and the dress code is pure chic," according to a press release.\n"It can be described as a fashion show, but that's not all it is," said Stephanie Harrison, coordinator of the event and optician at Optiks, the business that is sponsoring the event.\nFashion + Function + Art is a benefit for the Buskirk-Chumley. It is a fashion show and concert that will showcase local artists and offer attendees a chance to sample appetizers from Bloomington restaurants. The event is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and admission is $10, though it is free for members of the theater. The benefit will feature a raffle, in which participants can win a grand prize of a limousine ride and a $50 gift certificate to Restaurant Tallent. Other prizes include gift certificates like a $75 to Grazie! Italian Eatery. There will also be a photo booth for attendees who want to take home their memories from the evening. \nThe theater will be set up as an old-fashioned cocktail lounge with tall tables, and the models will arrive by limousine. Models on three catwalks will be showing clothing and other items from businesses like J.L. Waters Co., Relish, Cactus Flower, Cherry Canary and Superior Shoes. \nThe event will feature musical and dance performances between the catwalk showcases, beginning with a dance performance by senior Codey Girten. The musical performances will include Sophia Travis, the Mothertruckin' DJs and Horns of Happiness. \nTravis is also the president of the Monroe County Council and an active member of the Bloomington community. \n"It's interesting how dynamic the program is," she said. "Everyone's kind of involved." \nTravis has a classical background, but she has also been playing pop, rock and tango for 20 years. She said she will probably play piano at the Buskirk-Chumley for her performance because she loves the stage and the piano there. \nThe idea for the event originated when employees at Optiks began discussing how they could help the Buskirk-Chumley because they felt that the theater benefited their business.\n"Optiks has always supported art, but we feel that the Buskirk-Chumley is the pulse of Bloomington," Harrison said. "We thought of a fashion show, and it just kind of grew from there because we had a lot of local businesses wanting to get involved." \n"It's a very special benefit in that it's rallied support from so many local businesses," Travis said. "Everybody's in it together to make it successful. ... It's helping me as an artist, and as a person who is highly public, by being able to say this community supports the arts"