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You Can't Afford The Revolution

Last night I attended The Power Plant's fundraiser -Powerball 9, marking twenty years for the contemporary art gallery. The theme - revolution - was a bit hard to take from an event charging $160 a ticket (I didn't pay), filled with rich people. However, I understand The Power Plant needs to make some money. Besides, their "Revolution" wasn't referring to any mass redistribution of wealth or peasant uprising. It was more a style revolution, a revolution of hairdos, cell phones and 60/70's baby boomer rock.

New York band, Earl Greyhound played two sets in another room - they were awesome. An always changing, multicolored light display, installed on stage behind them highlighted their whole seventies vibe very well. The best part was the bassist. She had on this crazy outfit and a huge afro with feathers tied into it. I think I'd be a little sweet on her if I wasn't in love with someone else.

The party's Hugo Boss room had recreations of those famous black and white suits The Beatles wore and a digital juke box wall projection with album covers and a phone number on it. The idea was you call the phone number, select the music you want from the screen and BAMMM - you're DJ'ing the Hugo Boss room at The Power Plant. I don't have a cell phone, so I couldn't participate.

Bruce LaBruce had a hallway installation, bathed in black light, with t-shirt slogans about revolution written on the wall in glow in the dark marker. "Madonna is counterrevolutionary", "Heterosexuality is the new opiate of the masses", "The revolution is my boyfriend", he says.

David Mabb, Andrew Zealley and Jonathan Cohen all had video installations in the Canadian Tire Gallery room. Andrew Zealley aka PSBEUYS played a montage of blurred city lights, flowers, office & apartment towers and then later webcams and a dude jerking off into a webcam. There was also a digital kissing booth, a giant fake cake and a hair salon installation where you could undergo a revolution in hair care.

All this may have been a poignant commentary on modern living in the digital age, but I couldn't be sure. It was definitely a cool party - lots of bright lights, free food and pretty girls. Even if they didn't free the serfs, at least they redistributed a little wealth to the gallery. Shine on you crazy diamonds.


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