Fanfare: Forces of Nature showcases talents of Pittsburgh-area planners, designers

With a hypnotic, prismatic visual of 78 individually hand-cut hexagons illuminating the upper floor of raw space in Bakery Square 2.0, chances were slim that anything else could possibly divert attentions.

Until a double team of body paint, tulle and strategically placed rhinestones appeared.

“We’re told they can come off by soaking, ripping and not screaming too loud,” joked Ashley Young of Creative Juice Group.

With each moment unfolding as one seemingly endless crescendo, area event planners and designers unleashed their creative prowess for theForces of Nature: Color Our World soiree on March 5, turning a blank canvas into an explosion of eye candy.

“I don’t want to go home tonight,” admittedJoanna Huss.

The East Liberty event benefited Event Pros Take Action, a charity formed five years ago by professional event organizers to help rebuild communities that have suffered from environmental catastrophe.

Under the serenade of an amplified violinist courtesy ofSteven Vance, guests wove their way through vibrantly designed vignettes fromJoe Mineo, Martin Potoczny of LUXE Creative,Shayla Hawkins, Sheila Weiner of The Event Group, and Tim Komen of TK Studio.

“Frank Sinatra always said orange is the happiest color, and we agree with that, but we also think it’s hot and sexy,” Mineo shared, whose space included a multitiered chandelier of monarchs and florals.

While Move Makers Band obliterated the stage, plenty of partygoers headed to Komen’s space, which had everyone wanting to take home a souvenir from his “Punk Rock & Marie Antoinette”-themed green room.

Not even the elevator ride back downstairs proved to be mundane.

“This is my Uber driver,” joked Stephan Botranger (with Michael Kostiew) when Juggler Toby rolled in with his unicycle.

Spied were Event Pros Take Action founder Susie and Gregg Perelman, Allison McGeary, Wallis and MarshallKatz, Alexis Maddox, Ericka Taylor, Alexa Franz, Cathy Lewis Long, Shari Zatman, David Missimer and Lara and MichaelBentz.

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