Nick & Holly’s Pulp Collaboration
An interactive temporary art installation designed by Nick Horsfall and Holly McClellan for The PULP Art Party T.O., a Toronto Design Offsite Event.
Nick and Holly’s Fortune Palace & Financial Fortune Cookies
In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions and prosperity wishes for the new lunar year, it was decided to work with paper fortune cookies. The palace structure served to welcome or say goodbye to Pulp Party guests with the offer of a party favour. By coincidence paper fortune cookies have been trending as party favours in recent years.
The Financial Fortune Cookies were created using old bills, statements, inserts, company annual reports and a horse racing program. Like real cookies the messages inside the paper cookies read as practical, informative, cryptic, wishful thinking or outright nonsense. Expressions were appropriated and modified from statements found in the source materials. Some messages were borrowed from cliches involving money and gambling. The lucky or unlucky numbers mimic the number scheme and patterns found in real fortune cookies. The Financial Fortune Cookies correlate with Holly McClellan’s Financial Peace Cranes.
Nick Horsfall designed and fabricated the Fortune Palace to suit the chosen theme, the assigned space and for easy transport and set up at the venue. Images of ancient Chinese architecture, experiences with Chinese food restaurants served as inspiration for the decorated, cardboard structure. For Feng Shui reasons the fish pond was added inside the base. 
The structural and environmental aspects of pulp and paper were considered during the design and construction stages. Most of the materials were sourced from recyclables at the artists’ home. Paper supplies left over from previous art projects or personal events were used. For a sense of authenticity, a nod to recycling after a takeout meal, paper takeout boxes and bags from local Chinese food restaurants were included. To accentuate the features of the structure, battery operated LED lights were used on the pillars, under the roof line and inside the fish pond. The strobe effect from the LEDs inside the fish pond created movement in the water, which delighted party guests.
Happy Lunar New Year! Wishing everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous year ahead!
About PULP
The Pulp Paper Art Party is an annual event in Toronto that takes place at different venues every year. It is an exciting art event involving installations, performances, individual and community art projects with examining possibilities and uses for pulp and paper materials. With music and dancing, the Super Wonder Gallery was turned into a blue bin playground for the event January 20, 2018. By interacting with the artworks, and noting the event’s connection to the architectural community, it becomes clear environmental protection and sustainability are themes.
Photos and info about the event can be found using #PULPartparty on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook.
Holly McClellan 