MOCA Goes Dark: Night Visions

On a remarkable night the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA) ventured into the extraordinary with its one-night-only Night Visions dance party. The lights were turned off, and the museum went dark, immersing attendees in a blend of art, music, and history. The event unfolded across two floors, with Floor 1 transformed into an enchanting interactive art party, brought to life by Akin, a collective of Toronto's emerging artists. The Tower Automotive Building's legendary history as a venue for dance parties, raves, and punk gigs was rekindled for this special evening, lighting up MOCA with breathtaking art and music. Starting at 9 pm, the ground floor became a playground of artist-led interactive installations and activities.As the beats dropped, attendees danced amid the artwork on the blacklight dance floor, thanks to the talents of DJs Lulu Wei and Sammy Rawal. Lulu Wei's mix of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and hi-energy house hits had been moving queer audiences for years, and Sammy Rawal, co-founder of Yes Yes Y'all, Canada's largest queer hip hop/dancehall party, was dedicated to creating inclusive spaces for LGBTQ2 POC. The Night Visions party was a collaborative experiment with a profit-sharing model, presented in conjunction with the exhibition "An Index," which showcased the work of 24 artists from the Akin Studio Program. "An Index" offered an open and honest look at the processes, challenges, delights, and failures of creating art in the city. It emphasized the importance of social play in creative production and paid homage to the building's history as a site of illicit raves. The event graphics, based on historical aluminum caps, previous manufactured in the Automotive Building all contributed to making this night an unforgettable journey through art and creativity. Attendees had the opportunity to join MOCA as it went dark for the first time ever, immersing themselves in the extraordinary transformation of the museum by local artists, co-curated with Marjan Verstappen and produced by Humboldt Magnussen. The Night Visions party offered an unforgettable experience that fused art, music, and social play, reviving the vibrant museum party circuit. It was a unique and unmissable artistic journey through time.