With DJ booth, pop up bar and exclusive film, Saturday saw the Norman Rea Gallery become THE coolest place to be.
The NRG was transformed by edgy lighting and great music into a vibe paradise for the retrospective of the Northern Youth fashion show.
The fashion show and talk by its star guest: the formidable fashion genius Anna Wintour, has had the whole of York Uni abuzz for weeks. Having only taken place the night before, most of the organisers and crew hadn't yet recovered from their post show daze (and hangover from the riot of an after party), yet turn out for the event was a great success.
All in aid of charity, we were invited into the corridor space of the gallery first and despite not being allowed into the main space, sampled cocktails and popcorn, admiring some of the outfits we had seen gracing the catwalk the night before. Up close we could see the smaller details of the beautiful handcrafted clothes, thoughtfully arranged at eye level and making great use of the awkward room space.
Photo by Eleanor Sutherland
The mystery was intensified by the sound of music filtering through from the other space and when the doors opened we were pretty shocked! Inside the white cube space had been transformed and it was almost like stepping into one of York's cooler bars. The lights were dimmed, the music was provided by DJ's extensive vinyl collection and the bar run by film makers-turned artisan distillers; Orillo Vodka, was lively.
Sketches inspired by the catwalk show and huge mood board posters were arranged around the gallery, showing the inspiration and work that had gone into the event. Exclusive footage from the night was projected, and proved popular - everyone crowded around to spot themselves and their mates, whilst models wearing the most striking outfits from the collection walked around the gallery to give those of us who couldn't make the night before and idea of what we had missed out on. There was a sense of the legacy the show would leave with the curatorial inclusion of one painted black wall, ready to be covered in chalk comments and opinions.
The evening went down a treat and the chill atmosphere was the perfect way to wind down surely the coolest event on campus this term. The air of exhaustion from everyone involved in the show was noticeable but so was their relief that the hard work had paid off.
NRG X The Northern Youth was presented in aid of these charities:
http://www.xavierproject.org/
http://www.trcf.org.uk/
http://www.refugeeactionyork.org/
All photographs by Ruth Martin unless otherwise stated.