If you weren’t there last night, you missed. We were treated to a flawless night in San Nicholas under the full moon, as main-street was transformed into a fashion runway with the anticipating crowd seated on both sides, immersed in sound, light and color.
Local designer Gigiola Gomez opened the show with more than a dozen pieces, two different sets of dresses, one in green and black colorblock, the other in red and green dominated print. She presented a variety of versions with the same fabrics, mostly long gowns with elegant silhouettes and unique feminine features, ruffles, high slits, wings and cutouts, reminiscent of the glamorous Halston heritage gowns. The emcee reported her collection was travelling to New York for another fashion show this morning. Gigi came out with her models at the end of her segment wearing her own design, emerald green pants made of grass-like fabric.
The second designer, Eliza Lejuez, showed off her silk screened scarves. The models, wearing basic black dresses had the scarves wrapped every which way, with the pattern projected on the giant screen behind them. Eliza borrowed her lexicon of colors and shapes from ancient Indian rock drawings and petroglyphs, making the visual materials authentic Aruban.
David Paulus, a previously unknown designer on the island, hails from neighboring Curacao and is self taught and self supporting in his quest for Art Fashion. His show was delightfully entertaining as he used colors, fabrics and shapes deliberately to create a whimsical theatrical effect, like he was redesigning the wardrobe for an Alice in Wonderland movie production in the tropics. For the last round his models came our prancing waving balloons on a stick, transforming the street into a kaleidoscope of shapes and forms in motion.
The fashion show funny intermission featured a group of actors dressed as clowns, dragging suitcases stuffed with discarded carnival costumes and hats. They littered the street with their junk, fishing a model out of a giant trash can, dressing her up, then picking two of the spectators, dressing them all up too, and parading them for a mock fashion show, which the crowed appreciated. They left after packing up their belonging, including a model, into the trash can, dancing on their way out.
Atelier Dore was next in line presenting spectacular pieces of handcrafted jewelry. The models all dressed in white served as backdrops to spectacular “Jewelry from another world,” by husband and wife team from Surinam known as Atelier Zilver, a family business since 1955, crafting one of a kind pieces with semi precious stones and silver. The show was incredible spectacular.
The shock effect of the last exhibitor overshadowed the handbags at first, when Madariaga and Benjumea two very talented local artists presented their collection of one of a kind satchels, and bags. The models, both male and female, encased in skin colored spanks, and brown fabric funnels on their heads carried the unique oversize bags, made of leather with ethnic trimmings, up and down the street, with dignity and poise, and it took me a while to recover and actually look at the bags. The finale featured a kind of stretcher, carried in by four, practically naked young man, with a slender woman sprawled on top, with two of the bags hanging from her outstretched arms. I don’t remember the bags. I remember the wow.
Dinner on the square and an auction followed. Dinner was prepared by EPI and EPB students under the direction of the island’s best chefs, Erwin Husken, Screaming Eagle, prepared the first amuse, Peruvian Shrimp Causa; Patrick van der Donk, of Amuse Sunset Restaurant, created the second amuse, lollypop Goat Cheese Surprise; then we enjoyed Grouper Roulade with Salmon by Gerard Coste, Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino; a Tropical Goat Stoba, by Darren Romero, Marriott Aruba Resort & Casino, and the main course, Sirloin a la Ritz Carlton by Stephen Toevs. The dessert, a light and creative sweet, won the previous dessert competition held among Aruba’s culinary students. The winning team, under the direction of chef Ever Pena, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa enjoyed compliments for their tasty creation.
The auction emceed by Diana Croes, concluded a most enjoyable evening. Diana invited some of the visiting artists to report on their experience in Aruba, also inviting her son and colleague Tito Bolivar, to sum up his impressions from an organizer’s point of view. The capable mother and son duo put in many man-hours to create an excellent event for Aruba, following the vision of the MinTour to make San Nicholas the center of art and culture on the island. Our sincere compliments on a mission accomplished.
