Randy Gibson
The Uptown is transformed into one big bar during a Factory Party.
Calgary’s biggest art party takes a final bow
It’s an art show it’s a music show and let’s face it it’s a bit of a shit show too. The Modern Leisure an art and design collective in Calgary has been putting on Factory Parties since its humble beginnings in the cozy Artlife space and has grown to sprawl over the entire Uptown theatre complex. The final instalment of these popular bacchanalian gatherings promises to be a fitting curtain call.
“The idea wasn’t always to be about a party it just forced itself into massive party land because the kids that showed up they were dressed up but they still wanted to get fucked up” says Randy Gibson one of the organizers. “They still wanted to have a blast.”
But it can’t just be about the party people have a lot of boozy options in Calgary so there has to be something interesting going on. At a Factory Party there’s plenty of wothy options.
“It’s a huge party now but people wouldn’t come if we didn’t have all that art” says Gibson. “Maybe I just want to believe that but we get so much feedback from it. The more artists we involved the busier it got.”
This time around the art will have a theme suitable for a final party — it has to be disposable. “We suggested three-dimensional sculptures that could be put on the floor and were ideally made out of disposable or semi-disposable materials” says Gibson. “The piece can’t be too big that it can’t be constructed in the place or constructed in pieces and assembled in the space.”
If there are going to be two-dimensional works on the walls they are going to be taped not hung. This process has led to some innovative creations according to Gibson and it also helps prevent any painful damage to cherished work. It is a party after all.
Some of the other works partygoers can enjoy include a 15-minute 3-D movie of a guy making out with his girlfriend and a booth where video clips are shown to people hooked up to heart monitors. These monitors affect the flow of images on one of the Uptown’s screens and a webcam will broadcast the brave participants’ reactions. The clips won’t all be porn.
One thing that will set this closing party apart is the focus on bringing in a big headlining band. Warpaint from Los Angeles will front a lineup of acts in The Marquee Room that includes The Whit Sundays The Famines Manchild and local up-and-comers The Poly Shores . Out in the mezzanine and in one of the theatres DJs will spin and dancing will ensue.
But don’t expect wall decorations while listening to bands in the bar. “We’re not going to put much art in The Marquee Room this time because like when Andrew W.K played in there for number six it was so crammed in that room and anything that was on the walls was not on the walls by the end of the party” says Gibson. “We’re going to treat that as the get-loaded-listen-to-bands room.”
So why is this tiny chapter of Calgary lore coming to a close? The folks at The Modern Leisure are looking for a gallery and need to shift their attention away from organizing huge bashes. Plus you don’t want to push it. “Under that name I think we’re done for now” says Gibson. “I don’t want to kill it. I don’t want to take it too far.”
