By Holly Bedard
Editor

Some remember the prom as their moment to shine. Others remember the bad food and sappy Billy Joel songs. No matter what memories you may have, the Monastery Artists Collective wants you to give it another chance with “1981 Year of the Gypsy Moth: A Prom and Fashion Show” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at its 21 W. Auburn St., third floor location.

Instead of celebrating the end of high school, the collective will hold this prom to mark its one-year anniversary.

“This is partly for us to celebrate with the people who have come to our shows and to show new people what we are doing,” said artist Aaron Slater, a glassblower and member of the group.

Slater said people should come dressed creatively. He expects many to arrive in costume.

The evening also will include new works of art on display, music, dancing and a “wearable art fashion show.”

While the catwalk will be used by clothing designers to display their wares, other artists will also get their turn.

“We encouraged people to take whatever they do as art and make it wearable,” Slater said. “You won’t just see clothing … People who work in other genres are taking what they do and putting it in the realm of a fashion show.”

The prom and fashion show will include a variety of performances. There will be musicians performing and people dancing in one room, while another will be reserved for spoken word artists, among others. The entire space will be an art installation.

The Monastery Artists Collective is an open group of artists, where membership is based on attendance and participation. It started as a way for artists to work collaboratively.

“We learn from each other,” Slater said. “We do works and shows that are beyond the scope of any one of us as an individual.”

The suggested donation is $5, which will benefit the Monastery Artists Collective. For more information, visit http://monasteryartists.org.