West Sound Arts Council Spring Tea raises pinky, looks to runway

In a somewhat bittersweet fashion, the West Sound Art Council’s annual spring tea and fashion show fundraiser is moving to a new location this year.

In its 10th year, this is the first year that the pre-Mothers’ Day event won’t be hosted at the old JC Penney building in downtown Bremerton. That building is now be redeveloped, while the fashion/art show fund-raiser is moving up the street into the Kitsap Conference Center at Harborside.

Along with that new location, organizer Cynthia Engelgau said there have been a few other new aspects added to the annual “Affair to Remember.”

“Some things we haven’t changed,” Engelau added. “Cap DeMiero and his band, which have supported the Tea for years, will be playing... City Councilman Mike Shepard will still be escorting the models ... there will still be art on display, there will be lots of tea, and all your friends from the West Sound Art Council will be there.”

Raise those pinkies, it all goes down from noon to 2 p.m. May 10 at the downtown Bremerton conference center. Tickets are $35, with free parking, and are available at Pacific Northwest Costume and Design shop in East Bremerton, Silverdale Antiques, Two Big Blondes consignment shop in Port Orchard, the Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Musuem in downtown Bremerton or by calling (360) 479-6720.

Proceeds benefit the West Sound Art Council which in turn grants scholarships to local art-oriented students aiming for higher education in an artistic field.

In a new twist this year, the West Sound Art Council will be showcasing what the event is all about, presenting its 2008 scholarship winner, Olympic High School senior Dylan Mangini. Planning to attend Western Washington University after graduation, Mangini’s aiming for a bachelors degree in Fine Art with hopes of becoming a professional artist. Currently president of his school art club, graphics designer for some local events and an annual participant and reigning champion of the Blackberry Festival chalk art contest, he is the type of student the Tea’s $35 ticket supports.

That ticket is also admission to an upscale affair and one of the biggest local fashion shows of the year in Kitsap.

Eight different local fashion-esque businesses make up the runway roster, Eneglau said, “sharing all kinds of different fashions, from vintage clothes to new trendy fashions, consignment clothing and even cowboy attire.”

In addition, local artists and quilters will also have their art on display while Chef Ben Downey of Columbia Hospitality will be adding a culinary artist’s touch for the taste buds, including strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Info: For more on the West Sound Arts Council, go to www.westsoundartscouncil.org; for tickets to the Spring Tea call (360) 479-6720.

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