Past editions of Art Gallery of Ontarioโs annual fund-raising gala have chosen a default event theme by celebrating whichever major exhibition had been on display at the museum that year. But for this yearโs gala, A.G.O. decided to switch up the format by launching a new event series that draws inspiration from some of the most famous art parties in history.
The museumโs inaugural Art Bash, which took place November 18, was inspired by the infamous parties of Andy Warholโs Factoryโthe Pop Art pioneerโs New York studio in the 1960s. William Craddock, the museum's manager of development and special events, said the organizing committee's goal wasnโt to simply recreate the Factory party, but to capture the partyโs essence and reimagine it for 2017.
โWe didnโt want to create the typical Warhol event. They tend to involve some pretty predictable things, like replicated Warhol works on the wall,โ said Craddock. โWe wanted to channel the spirit of Warhol and the spirit of the Factory for the event. The committee identified the spirit of Warhol was about disruption. He was an artistic radical and he was also very disruptive in his use of materials for the art he created.โ
The museum committee partnered with Fifth Element Group to create event decor, which included silver foilโa nod to the Factory's signature decorating materialโand a black and white color scheme inspired by Warholโs works. The decor incorporated the work of local artists as well, showcasing installations from nine artists who specialize in various mediums.
โWhat we tried to do with these artist projects was bring all the variety of media Warhol worked with into the event,โ Craddock said. โWe really looked for artists who were working in these media in disruptive ways, to show how theyโre little Warhols in their own right.โ Installations included a live illustration by artist Ness Lee, digital collages from Jacqueline Mak, fashion photography portraits by Mathew Guido, and a fashion installation by design duo Wrkdept.
Keeping with the Warhol theme, the event gave guests prints of the artistโs Campbellโs Soup I, which features 10 different flavors of soup. In 2018, the museum also will add the soup prints to its existing collection of Warhol works.
Art Bash, one of A.G.O.โs three major annual fund-raising eventsโjoining Massive Party and Art Torontoโwas sponsored by RBC and raised more than $1 million for the museumโs exhibitions and programs.