Head to the Art Gallery by night on the 25th of this month, and you’ll be met with quite the display. An iridescent wall of red latex-clad arms at the entrance, reaching through to offer G.H. Mumm Champagne. An immersive 15,000 litre ball pit. A forest of suspended “electric vines”. It’s the kind of welcome one can only expect at Perth’s annual Vogue Art Ball, returning for its fourth year with an Electric Dreams theme and a band of fantastic females to bring it to life.
“Electric Dreams is all about shining a light on WA talent,” says Art Ball Creative Director and Event Producer Grant Capriotti. “We are illuminating the best of WA’s music, art and performance talent.”
“We’re also showcasing wonderful WA small businesses and their offerings; Lux Events, Event Artillery, Neon Romance, Floral Army and of course Comestibles catering, all of whom are helping bring the Electric Dreams vision to life,” he says.
Between fun lighting installations, splashes of neon, abundant florals and illuminated food platters, this team of creative professional powerhouses have their work cut out for them.
“The opportunity to put these thriving vendors together on the same event is very exciting,” says Capriotti. “Art Ball is a beast and you need the best people around you to make it happen. Each are experts in their own field and there’s a level of trust that means we know they’ll bring it.”
Natalie Gosatti’s design-minded event furniture hire company, Event Artillery, is charged with creating a dramatic and luxurious VIP retreat. “I am blown away by the creative minds involved in this event,” she says. “I am excited to see the theme come to life – what the team has created is incredible, fun and so unique to this event.”
Lux Events’ Kirsty Mainstone will be “transforming the gallery into the party that is the Art Ball” by way of carefully curated lighting, while Sophie Leith of Neon Romance will add colourful accents to the event’s overall electric mood.
Floral Army’s Alicia Zorn has one mantra for the event – “colour, colour, colour!” – and Faith Nichols, director of Comestibles, describes a mission brief of reflecting Art Ball’s electric branding in food by way of dainty lights and bright utensils.
Beyond the creative extravagance the event has come to be known for, Capriotti is upping the ante for this year’s event in recognition of the Art Gallery main building’s 40th anniversary.
“We’ve got four-times the amount of performance art than we have ever had before – it’s really going to keep the energy pumping the entire night,” Capriotti says. “People will be blown away.”
That includes the return of Art Ball’s infamous nude life drawing sessions with a glow-in-the-dark twist, and a three-storey interactive projection using motion sensing technology from Perth-born light artist Brendan Harwood (to be enjoyed, Capriotti says, “whilst sipping champagne and cocktails in king-sized beds”.) Plus, multi-award-winning acts San Cisco and FEELS will have centre-stage, while roaming performances from hyper-glam duo The Huxleys, cult cabaret cast YUMMY and alternative drag favourites Gendermess fill in the blanks for an action-packed evening that promises to impress.
“We want to challenge people’s perceptions of art galleries and black tie gala events,” Capriotti declares.
As for what to wear? Capriotti has one tip: “wear something that’s unmistakably you.”
“Go crazy with colour, metallics and hints of fluro,” he says. “I’d be surprised if we didn’t see some powered LED or optic fibre looks on the red carpet too.”
Art Ball will take place from 7:00pm on Saturday, May 25 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Tickets are on sale at http://www.artball.com.au.