by Jen McNeely

On Wednesday evening, Queen West artist’s, bar owners and heavy drinkers collided with white haired Rosedale ladies, Oakville mail men and mouthy media at the Ministry of the Interior pop up store in Yorkville. If you weren’t wearing one outlandish accessory – then you simply didn’t fit in. Long satin gloves, polka dot shoes, candy cane prints, Hudson Bay originals, and ass-crack tight sparkly leggings; whoever said creative types wear all black was a god damn liar!!!

Anyhow, we all gazed at an array of fantastical objects by eccentric Barcelona designer Jaime Hayon, who you may recognize as the full grown man who likes to dress as a giant bunny. Using classic porcelain design but injecting his playful tongue and cheek signature item, Hayon’s work is exquisite while also embodies an admirable bratty wit.

Avenue and Cumberland is the third of MOTI’s pop ups this fall. The first was across from those unforgivable five thieves at Yonge and Summerhill, and the second at the Dupont and Davenport garden centre. Hayon’s exhibit is the culmination of this series, which brought new life and downtown cool to each corner it sprouted from. Certainly the Yorkville locale is by far the most polished; one could practically check their make up in the marble floor. That said a fancy address does not guarantee a flawless reception. Half way through the night, an awkward discovery was made, in that several of the pop-up patrons had their coats locked in a closet with no key. The party went on a little longer than intended as we waited and waited the 24hour emergency locksmith. Wine was rationed and back massage circles formed because NO ONE was allowed to sit on the $6000 chair, not even the elders with knotted shoulders. Old and young, we formed new friendships and shared layers for warmth.

When the locksmiths did finally arrive, they made everyone move far away from the locked door, fearing their secret break-in methods would be exposed. In a time of unforeseen chaos, people make strong bonds and therefore with new friends and stomachs growling, we all headed to Hemmingways for sub par quesadillas. Some jackass pulled the alarm which caused major noise and uproar. When EMS crew arrived, I was forced to abandon my Ceaser.

It is unfortunate that we don’t have the dough to buy MOTI’s maniacal thousand dollar joker statues, but hopefully the Yorkville pop up will attract some local royalty. Certainly the Hayon figurines would dominate the other conservative, mild mannered statues in the home. If these fantastic objects came alive there’s no doubt they would poke you with their dagger and laugh.