Jorn Weisbrodt (Luminato Festival Artistic Director), Jeanne Beker (Canadian fashion icon), Rufus Wainwright (singer, songwriter)

This year the annual Luminato Festival’s and Yves Saint Laurent opening night party took place at the Allen Lambert Galleria within the unique, architecturally fascinating Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto’s financial district on June 14, 2013.

Guests were greeted on a red carpet on the Front Street side of Brookfield Place. Willem Dafoe arrived with much fanfare. Inside, there was lots of activities in particular the new interactive exhibit “Stockpile” was unveiled at the Allen Lambert Galleria. In the spirit of arcade games, it’s basically a giant-sized claw machine. Guests could insert a toonie into the machine for a chance to win useful objects donated by the community along with special surprises. Participating artists themselves became the claw while the guest on the outside uses a machine to control their movement. This exhibit was in the galleria from June 14-22nd.

Other activities included a beauty bar, photobooth, and getting your own personal engraved Yves Saint Laurent makeup for the ladies and hand-rolled Yves Saint Laurent cigars for men.

Drinks features included a variety of cocktails included Open wines, Drambuie and Pravda vodka. The Drambuie Rusty Nail was my drink of choice. Great drinks were balanced with great hors d’oeuvres. Also it was a nice surprise to see my friend, Chef John Placko, whom I didn’t recognize when he’s not wearing his white chef’s outfit.

Entertainment included a performance by Shakura S’Aida, Canadian jazz and blues vocalist. And Artistic lady about town, Andrea Bolley leading by example, turned the Allen Lambert Galleria into a dancefloor and really danced the whole evening to the tunes of Toronto’s own award-wining DJ Lissa Monet.

Guests in attendance included Jorn Weisbrodt (Luminato Festival’s Artistic Director), Jeanne Beker, Rufus Wainwright, Willem Dafoe, Jian Ghomeshi, Adrienne Clarkson, Marina Abramović, David Livingstone and Jamaal Magloire.

Willem Dafoe, actor

Willem Dafoe, actor

Inside the Allen Lambert Galleria with the giant Stockpile arcade game

Inside the Allen Lambert Galleria with the giant Stockpile arcade game

At the Yves Saint Laurent beauty bar

At the Yves Saint Laurent beauty bar

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Scroll down for more photos in the gallery below.

Also check out our photos from the Luminato Festival’s Big Bang Bash featuring the North American premiere of the Viktor&Rolf Dolls exhibition at the ROM the week prior.

ABOUT THE LUMINATO FESTIVAL
Luminato Festival is the international multi-arts festival for people open to having art change their outlook on the world. For ten days each June, the Luminato Festival transforms theatres, parks and public spaces across the city and creates a home for artists to come play, share and create. When the unexpected meets the transformative, that’s a Luminato moment. Luminato gratefully acknowledges the generous support and vision of its Founding Luminaries, SuperNova donors, and Patron Circle Members. The Festival would not be possible without the support of our Partner in Creativity, L’Oréal Canada. Luminato also proudly acknowledges the support of its Founding Government Partner the Province of Ontario, as well as the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Arts Council. Visit luminato.com.

Some tweets from the evening


Giant arcade claw machine at the  #LuminatoOpening gala @luminato @YSL
Rolling YSL cigars at their @Luminato opening party #luminatoopening
"Caitlin's BFF" My bespoke Touche Éclat from #luminatoopening

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Nick Lee

Editor and Photos at BestOfToronto.net