Just because Friday night’s TOP extravaganza is billed as the second annual and it’s expected to top (sorry) last year’s phenomenally successful inaugural event, don’t bet on a third year in 2012, regardless of how well things go.

“We may retire this next year and bring in something different,” said Carol Salomon, one of the co-founders of New Face Productions.

The group formed while on a hike a couple of years ago to dream up creative ways of helping the Durango Arts Center. The one-night event is actually months in the making. This spring, artists were invited to pick up garments – mostly high-end T-shirts – and refashion them. As an added twist this year, each also got a bonus yard of fabric to augment the top with a scarf, belt or whatever else might be made from a yard of fabric.

Because TOP organizers split proceeds from live and silent auction sales with the artists, there’s no shortage of entries and jurors can be selective. Of the 37 entries chosen, 18 will be spotlighted at Friday’s event in a show choreographed by Fort Lewis College’s Jane Gould with live models on the runway at the Arts Center. All of the fashions are on display this week in the Barbara Conrad Gallery, and those not included in the live show are available through a silent auction that will end Friday evening.

Last year’s event raised about $13,000 for the Arts Center programs and Salomon said much of that was used to hire new exhibits director and gallery shop manager Mary Puller. She said New Face funds will continue to seek cutting-edge projects at the center, including dance, lectures or ideas still unsprung. The group has already offered to step up and help with a proposed textile show next spring in the Conrad Gallery.

“This isn’t about tradition, it’s a new face and not the same old-same old,” Salomon said.

“This event came about when the center was struggling, but sometimes things have a life so we welcome new ideas. We’re having a lot of fun with it and raising a lot of money, so maybe we’ll do it again and maybe we’ll come up with something new next year.”

ted@durangoherald.com