June 5th, 2014 marked the arrival of the annual Power Ball – AKA the party of the year. A fundraising gala hosted by Toronto’s Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, the event is thrown every year to raise awareness and funds about the Power Plant’s mission: To continue to offer top-of-the-line art programming while also engaging diverse audiences in their artists’ work. This year’s Power Ball theme was Old/New World, which acknowledged and reminded Toronto’s VIPs and socialites that the innovation of digital technology was developed from an analogue world. From guests’ attire to food and drink to international artists showcasing their interpretation of Old/New World, the theme was obvious throughout the sparkling night.
The party was attended by Toronto’s most influential, many making the effort to follow the theme by wowing in styles from the 20s to the 70s to today’s most avant-garde fashion. Art installations were in every room – some interesting, some interactive, some creepy, but all very unique. One that stood out tremendously was the B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beamer) installation, which was a room that featured the works of 31 artists all projected on walls. Meant to keep guests sharing on social media, it was hard not to just stand there and watch the entire presentation at once.
Another stand-out was British artist Naomi Kashiwagi, who played 78-rpm records on a refurbished wind-up gramophone. Eyes all on Naomi, this interesting installation was almost like magic.
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Food and drinks were not lacking as famed chef Marc Thuet presented a hot dog station unlike any hot dog stand you’ve ever seen. Creating gourmet dogs with every topping you can possibly think of, it was a sight to see guests noshing on dogs in their gowns and suits – only Mr. Thuet could pull that off. Booze was flowing with different bars in every room and on the outdoor patio, offering creative cocktails from Ciroc Vodka, Johnny Walker, Don Julio Tequila and more – let’s just say nobody left unhappy.
The 2014 Power Ball was a success and we managed to capture some of the highlights on video, but if you want to find out more about why the Power Ball exists and how important it is to the Power Plant, watch our interview with director Gaetane Verna.
Did you attend the Power Ball? What was your favourite art installation? Let us know below or tweet us at @ViewtheVibe.
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