Power Ball – Quarter- Life Crisis
Thursday June 14, 2012 8:30 p.m.
The Power Plant
231 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON M5J 2G8
Celebrating its first 25 years, The Power Plant’s major fundraiser, the Power Ball, was a lively event with over 1700 quests attending and raising some $350,000. The party brought out a diverse crowd of artists, a bit of Bay street, some celebrities, the fashion set and people just wanting to support the Power Plant’s contemporary arts programming.
The Quarter–Life Crisis theme was meant to reflect some of our experiences in life in the first twenty-five years. DJ Alex Merrell and Diego Armand supplied the music. The VIP Lounge offered a performance by Dragonette sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka and Soho House.
Philippe Blanchard’s installation of multicoloured (RGB) prints lit by LED strobe lights was impressive. The 11 metre by 11 metre installation with geometric shapes was computer controlled. The movie Tron came to mind at one point, but perhaps I was time traveling to when I was twenty-five. You can check out his other works at www.philippeblanchard.com
Sarah Febbraro’s futuristic talk-reality show, Future Talk, was entertaining. Party goers could volunteer to be interviewed and unload their thoughts.
The Main Hall had projected animations by Jesi the Elder above the dance floor and the bar was framed by roses. The dancing really got going by about 12 with some enthusiasm fuelled by alcohol and a good DJ to boot.
The Main Room also had a giant tree with a swing—the Kobo tree. Kobo’s attached had quotable bites displayed. Around the corner in another room artist Marisa Hoicka presented another installation where she is secluded in a room where viewers can only make contact with her through a series of buttons and buzzers.
The Power Ball started in 1999 and continues to be the major fun party to be at in the city, and you get to support contemporary art at same time.
party Outdoors
Range Rover Gets a write up
Range Rover Gets a Makeover
Sheelagh Keeley, Arnauld Maggs, Spring Hurlbut
Sarah Robayo Sheridan (Mercer Union), Kate MacKay (Images Festival), Artist Luis Jacob
Performer Sarah Febbraro (in black dress) and family
Jian Ghomeshi & companion
Kate MacKay (Images Festival), Sarah Robayo Sheridan (Mercer Union), Yan Wu (Programme Director of Gendai Gallery)
Stephen Kitt and Helen Hung
Powell Macdougall and friend
Alex Mcleod
Other Party Guests
Chef Marc Thuet cooked up a spit roasting bison which party goers devoured in neat little sandwiches.
Note: While I can still vaguely remember what it was like to be twenty-five years old, I forgot to get the names of some quests who graciously allowed me to take their photo. Should you recognize a face, please do not be shy and email artoronto.ca with the identities of anyone who might not want to go un-announced.
Text and photo by Phil Anderson