Kara Chomistek wants to ensure fellow students have a place to show — and sell — their art and fashion.
Chomistek, in her fourth year of a biomechanical engineering degree at the University of Calgary, is president of Promoting Art | Redefining Kulture, a local art and fashion group holding their second spring fundraiser at the Chinese Cultural Centre Sat., Mar. 6 at 8:30 p.m.
The group was founded by Chomistek and Suzie Philpoot as an outlet for young artists and designers to sell their artistic wares in an environment that doesn’t charge expensive commission fees or for access to the event.
“We had a great first year,” says Chomistek. “We started with our PARKsale, then we developed our fundraiser, which is the PARKshow.”
Because the group doesn’t charge artist fees, they get most of their funding through their bi-annual spring and fall fundraisers. This year’s spring show features an exciting lineup of local designers, including a dance performance by Dangerkat, a Calgary-based dance group led by Kaiti Pasqualotto.
“Dangerkat has performed at both London and Paris Fashion Weeks,” says Chomistek. “I took a dance class with Kaiti so that’s how I know her.”
As the president and director of external relations for PARK as well as in the depths of her biomechanical engineering degree, Chomistek explains that one of the greatest challenges for her is time management — between labs, the show and school, she’s barraged by work.
“Because we’re a non-profit, a lot of the responsibility is on me,” she says. “I’ve been putting out little fires here and there leading up to the show.”