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photos by Alysha Kautz

Have you heard about the latest arts & entertainment event to hit this town? If you haven’t been to a RAWartists show yet, you definitely have to check it out! If you HAVE been to one, then you know how unforgettably entertaining they are, and have already bought your tickets for the next one! 😉

It’s only $10 per ticket, for an amazing night of art, music, fashion, and fun, and you get to specify which artist your dollars support!

What is RAW? According to their website, RAWartists’ mission is “to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity.”

This is happening all over the country, with live, incredible shows every month! It’s a dream come true for new & emerging artists of all genres; it gives them the opportunity to showcase their talent in a fun, party atmosphere, surrounded by their friends, the artistic community, and hundreds of appreciative fans!

Oh, and did I mention how FUN it is??? A night of inspiration, artistic expression, and partying with tons of cool people, all for less than the cost of a movie ticket – AMAZING!!!

In Boise, RAWartists’ local coordinator, the brilliant & savvy Amy Johnson, has packed each months’ show with an incredible variety of local talent. Photographers, musicians, artists, jewelry designers, hair & makeup artists, fashion shows, flame throwers, dancers, short films… From beginning to end, each RAW show is nonstop entertainment. It’s also an opportunity to support & encourage this town’s thriving artistic community, meet these talented folks one-on-one, and rub shoulders with some of Boise’s most fun & creative people!

I had the privilege of attending June’s RAWartist Boise Solstice show, and it completely surpassed my expectations! The Powerhouse is a perfect venue; artists’ displays were showcased on both floors, while live performances rocked the stage. It was so much fun to peruse the amazing photography (one of my faves, Aubrey Brower was there!), enjoy awesome tunes by Skyward Down and The Riled, shop the edgy steampunk jewelry by Amber Conger (Refinerii), and try NOT to wiggle my hips when the Starbelly dancers hit the stage, ‘cuz I would have spilled my drink! 😉

By the time the show’s grand finale began – the fashion shows! – the crowd was abuzz with barely-bridled anticipation. New-to-Boise clothing designer Erika Bates debuted her Asuyeta clothing line, a 50’s inspired ultra-flirty ensemble of flowing fabrics & frill that I can’t wait to feature in my next article!!! (Coming soon, I promise!)

The models, styled by Deco: Hair & Makeup Design, sashayed down the catwalk to a retro-inspired music mash-up that completely captured Asuyeta’s essence of punk, spunk, & girly fun. You could tell they were having a blast in their pin-up looks and gorgeous outfits. Asuyeta’s clothes seem to have a life of their own, with airy fabrics that swirl & twirl like dandelions caught in a spring breeze.

The second fashion show was by Nena Earl’s Bourgeois Chic line, and showcased a completely different energy! Warrior-clad male models marched down the runway first, to set the scene for the fantastical display that would follow. Styled by M2 Artistry Hair & Makeup Design, the fierce & fabulous models hit the catwalk like something out of a Mad Max-meets-Walking Dead post-apocalyptic dream.

With accessories by Aubrey Brower and Amber Conger, these warrior brides were anything but blushing! The Bourgeois Chic line was a fitting finale, equal parts drama, fashion, and entertainment!

The next RAWartist Boise show ~ Mixology on July 19th ~ is shaping up to be equally amazing, with artists like Whale and Ryan Bayne, levitation photography by Ammophotog (LOVE her!!), and the FINAL BOISE FASHION SHOW from the much-loved and immensely talented stylist & designer Tod Alan. Tod has been a brilliant creative light on this town’s fashion scene for many years; count on this fashion show to be his MOST amazing one yet!!!

Get your tickets NOW, because I have no doubt the Mixology show will sell out! I’ll be there – wouldn’t miss it for the world!!! 😉

See you soon!

XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

To purchase tickets to a RAW show in Boise, go here: http://www.rawartists.org/boise . Click on your favorite artist, and purchase tickets through their link to support their work!

To find a show in other cities across the USA, click here: http://www.rawartists.org/