42nd Annual Arts Awards Put Fashion First

The red carpet rolled out. An endless stream of apizza flew in the door straight from Big Green Truck’s ovens. DJ Cookie filled the room with tunes to get everyone on their feet.

And New Haven’s artists, designers, and fashionistas — some professional, some amateur, and a few still in strollers — gathered for an only-in-the-Elm-City celebration.

That was the scene at Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday night for the Arts Council of Greater New Haven​’s 42nd Annual Arts Awards, which this yead had the theme ​“Lights, Camera… Fashion!” 

Based on the outfits on display, attendees understood the assignment. (Click here to read about all five of Friday’s award winners, including Donald Carter, Alisha Crutchfield-McLean, Fashionista Vintage and Variety, Tea Montgomery, TracHouse Beauty Lounge, and Burton Alter.)

Donning wild patterns, chic monochrome, feathers of every color, an eye patch here and there, and even some googly eyes, all at the event came ready to show off their flair. 

And a good thing, too, because Babz Rawls Ivy, chair of the Arts Council Board (and WNHH radio morning show host), called up any passing fashionista (this reporter included) to the red carpet to tell viewers of the event’s livestream about their outfits.

As attendees schmoozed over pizza and gushed over their favorite ensembles, models and designers readied themselves for the show that was about to begin. Five of this year’s awardees were recognized for their contributions to keeping New Haven stylish.

And what better way to highlight their work than a fashion show. 

After the merry and stylish crowd took their seats in the auditorium, the house lights dimmed as the stage was flooded with color. 

Models strutted out, styled by the awardees, in outfits as fabulous as the ones the audience members were wearing. The jewels of a carnival headpiece glinted; long black feathers rustled in a collar of Elizabethan proportion; street-style, formalwear, and everything in between collided with perfect harmony. 

When the runway had been walked, it was time to bring out the artists behind all the glamor. And they arrived looking beyond glamorous themselves.

Donald Carter and Tea Montgomery wore their own creations. Todd Lyon of Fashionista Vintage and Variety dressed herself in finds from her store. Alisha Crutchfield-McLean was clad in New-Haven-made style from head to toe — including her hair, done by fellow awardee, Renee Brown.

One by one, these pillars of the New Haven arts community were presented their awards by stunning drag queen and hostess Xiomarie LaBeija.

For a few of the awardees, sitting on the SCSU stage was a full circle moment.

Donald Carter, who has been designing in New Haven for 40 years, attended SCSU and was named the school’s first Black homecoming king in 1977. The first Black queen was also nominated that year. Carter said with a smile he ​“could have been both.”

Renee Brown, owner of Trachouse Beauty Lounge, had also stood on the very same stage as SCSU’s Black Student Union fashion show chair. This time, she was being recognized for her business that helps women feel confident in themselves, through services from hair to nails to waxing, and of course a little ​“Black Girl Magic.”

The final award of the night was not presented to a designer, but to a man who has kept the boards of many different music and arts organizations – including the Neighborhood Music School and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra – running in New Haven for years. 

Burton Alter, this year’s recipient of the C. Newton Schenck III Award, said he felt humbled to share the stage with such talented artists. ​“I have no talent,” he said. ​“I can’t play a note.” 

Alter was being too humble, Babz Rawls Ivy told the audience. ​“Do you know how much talent it takes to wrangle a damn board?” she asked.

After expressing his gratitude, Alter had two pieces of advice for the audience.

The first, he learned through his daughter, who was a piano student at the Neighborhood Music School: ​“Get your children educated in the arts. It’s our future.”

The second, he picked up while helping start an arts council in Waterbury: if you want a good arts scene, ​“stay in New Haven.”