A Fashionable Fusion of Art & Science
By Michele ErdmanFriday, May 21, 2010
You would never really think that art and fashion would go hand-in-hand with science, but sometimes -- on rare occasions -- it does. This past weekend, the Orlando Science Center pulled out all the stops with Cocktails & Cosmos, featuring the artwork of Orlando-based fashion designer Consuelo Bellini.
"This was the first time we did an event this ambitious; merging fashion, art and science," says Jeff Stanford, VP of communications at OSC. "In the past, we've done some events where we brought various arts groups in to display and perform, but nothing on this scale."
The event was all made possible by Heide Evans, OSC's new manager of member relations, and her admiration of Bellini's work.
"I met Heidi Evans at the last Cocktails & Cosmos event in March and I invited her to see my art show at Senso Supper Club in May," explains Bellini. "She really enjoyed my art and suggested that we collaborate for the next OSC event -- that happened to be Cocktails & Cosmos."
Evans has taken the event to a whole new level, bringing in artists like Doug Rhodehamel, DJ Nigel John and the VOCI Dancers.
"Heide opened the event up to the various artists and performers and now the events stand on their own," says Stanford.
The event opened with a big bang, attracting more than a thousand people. The big show-stopper was Bellini, a high-end fashion designer and artist. Her display "Stained Spaces" was a beautiful mirror of light and movement, with colors and details so lively it appears as though the images could come to life.
When asked if science inspires her art at all, Bellini emphatically explains that some of her artwork was created especially for OSC.
"The developing of the Flower Lamps, Butterfly and Dragonfly were created for the OSC," she says. "I thought I needed some flora and fauna to go alongside of the dinosaurs in the DinoDigs room!"
Despite the fact that the air conditioning was broken that evening, the heat didn't overshadow the beauty of Bellini's work for a second.
"[The event] was definitely memorable for the heat," jokes Bellini. "I think it was really successful and the attendees seemed to enjoy the new look of the DinoDigs section."
Keep your eyes peeled for the next Cocktails & Cosmos event, which Stanford says they will offer every three months. The next one will be on September 19.
"The plan is to continue to incorporate art, music, dance, fashion and science together into a lively social function," says Stanford.
Who could ask for a better fusion?
For More Information: