photography by Kevan Morin
Leigh Wright
The old Sobey’s space on 104th Street and Japer Avenue saw a brief new moment of life, as it was reinvigorated for the fourth annual Vignettes design festival and its corresponding launch gala.
A giant tree constructed with paper, paint, egg cartons and more stood firm in an indoor “garden,” resulting in a fairy-tale stage for the Sept. 15 evening’s live musicians to serenade a room of over 800 design-savvy guests. But it was only one set piece in a space filled with them, as teams of designers, artists and builders had worked together to create unique spaces to show off their interior-design skills. “Vignettes is a platform for other local designers and craftsman to showcase what they are doing in this city,” said event organizer Leigh Wright. “It’s a celebration of what they do. To me, it’s extremely important that more stuff like this is done in this city.”
While judges explored the 20,000-square-foot space in search of the winning design, gala-attendees also cast their votes for a people’s choice award winner, while sipping cocktails from Belvedere Vodka and sampling culinary creations from Evoolution and Get Cooking. Donations were taken to raise funds for Canadian Progress Fund, AdaptAbilities and Uncles & Aunts at Large.
