Sight Unseen: An Exclusive, Pre-Fashion Week Art and Product Design Event Lands in NYC on September 7

New York City, NY, August 22, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Just prior to the crowds and craziness of New York Fashion Week comes SIGHT UNSEEN, an exclusive art and fashion event.  This is, essentially, a dual launch.  On the art side, The Sound of Art presents the new, limited-edition art book THE PLAYLIST by the art collective 7/20, a series of “poignant visual vignettes derived from the titles, content and sentiment of songs” chosen by the two artists that comprise 7/20 – M. Tony Peralta and Ed Ubiera.  On the fashion side, República launches its premier men’s eyewear line (both prescription and sunglasses). República Eyewear's already-buzzed-about advertising campaign (featuring actor Manny Perez) was recently shot in the Dominican Republic by fashion photographer Jochy Fersobe.  

SIGHT UNSEEN will be held at a private Manhattan loft, with complimentary cocktails from Chivas Regal.  Sounds for the evening will range from acoustic Latin jazz (provided by Frank Bambara Y Sus Salseros) to vintage beats (from DJ Wilspin of Nom De Guerre & DJ Dolla Bill).

Graphic artists and painters M. Tony Peralta and Ed Ubiera come together to form the 7/20 collective.  The two Dominican New Yorkers have radically different artistic sensibilities and influences, but, ironically, were born on the exact same day – July 20, 1974.  The Sound of Art, a New York-based entity created by Leopold Vasquez that represents artists of different disciplines from around the world, has shown the work of both artists at several underground and mainstream New York events.  [To see more work from these artists, please go to www.soundofart.net]  The new book THE PLAYLIST is a perfect showcase for the growth that each artist has experienced and the importance of music in their lives.  Some of the songs expressed as art include Bob Marley’s “Crazy Baldheads,” Brand Nubian’s “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down” and “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” by Consequence featuring Kanye West. This audience finds pleasure in art, fashion & music. Chivas Regal finds pleasure in supporting it.

República Eyewear grew out of the successful República menswear brand launched by Rafael Jimenez in 2003.  The company was originally founded in order to help fill a void in the marketplace for better quality goods targeted to a multi-ethnic consumer.  With the launch of their eyewear collection this fall, República continues to fulfill their mission of creating classic and functional products of superior quality that reflect the diversity, lifestyle and rich cultural heritage of Latin Americans and people of multi-cultural/ethnic descent worldwide.  The creation of edgy, sophisticated eyewear for men marks the next step in the evolution of the República brand. For more information on República visit: www.republicatrading.com or its partner site www.republicaupdate.com.

SIGHT UNSEEN
An exclusive, pre-Fashion Week Art and Product Design Preview
Art and Product Design by:  República & The Sound of Art
Artists: M. Tony Peralta & Ed Ubiera
Location: 28 W. 36th St, 11th flr.; Bet. 5 & 6 Aves.
Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm

Due to space restrictions, all press and photographers must be pre-cleared.

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