When it comes to Garden Party, Mattress Factory’s signature themed fundraiser, IYKYK. Unless you’ve attended the annual spring bash for yourself, it’s tricky to fully capture the experience in words: Guests arrive in lavish, DIY costumes, and the venue is transformed into a feast for all senses.
An Annual Garden Party Brings a Gothic Gathering to North Side’s Mattress Factory
Director of Advancement Mary Peltz describes the extravaganza as a wildly fun, immersive after-hours celebration where art, performance, music and costume transform the entire museum into a one-of-a-kind experience.
“It’s a joyful gathering that brings the community together to celebrate and champion artists and the creative spirit,” she says. And, of course, one hundred percent of ticket proceeds benefit the museum’s artistic, education and community outreach programs.
Next Friday, the 27th Garden Party will electrify the North Side, with a hotly — or, perhaps, darkly — anticipated theme: Gothic. The theme seems to be resonating amongst the museum’s staff, members, supporters and creative community — and the energy is building.
Creativity at Its Finest
Peltz says it feels as though conversation on selecting a theme is always percolating. “As an artist-centered museum and international residency, we’re fortunate to be able to draw inspiration directly from the artists we work with at the Mattress Factory,” she says. This year’s concept was shaped in part by current exhibiting artists like Rebecca Shapass and Ting Tong Chang. “Shapass’s solo exhibition Tempus Fugit explores ghostly presences, mortality and the passage of time — ideas that resonate with gothic sensibilities,” Peltz explains. “More broadly, gothic as a concept offered a rich well of inspiration: memento mori and memory, dramatic architecture, romantic literature and a sense of beauty intertwined with transience.
“It felt like a compelling theme full of creative possibility.”
What to Know Before You Go (Goth)
So: What can guests expect? Each year’s fete is completely unique, reimagined through its theme. It makes sense, then, that Gothic brings a more dramatic, atmospheric tone, leaning into mood, transformation and storytelling in a way that promises to shape everything from guests’ outfits to the space itself. The evening will be MC’ed by Kat De Lac, and three stages will showcase musical acts including ethereal rock band Zinnia’s Garden, Pittsburgh punk legends Carsickness and multi-disciplinary artist Formosa — DJ, artist, designer and half of the queer DJ collective Jellyfish.
A ticket grants access to the museum’s open galleries, an art auction by local and regional artists, a gothic costume contest and unexpected theatrical moments. Throughout the evening, Pittsburgh-area restaurants serve local fare in the event’s big tent; drinks by PA Libations as well as Penn Brewery are at numerous open bars. VIP guests also enjoy gothic-inspired cocktails curated by Lo Bar Cocktail Services and a bountiful spread by Kate Romane Productions’ Black Radish Kitchen.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Party
An affair of this scale takes a team effort, no doubt, which gets powered by a hardworking mix of staff, partners, artists and also community. In this deeply collaborative effort, museum staff bring the event to life by tackling the marketing, fundraising and decor. “Mattress Factory Senior Events Manager Amanda Reinard is the driving force behind it all,” Peltz says, “thoughtfully weaving all the pieces together into a cohesive and unforgettable experience.”
She also credits an amazing, generous and innovative group of partners — as well as Kelly Braden, owner of The Weeping Glass and Grim Wizard Coffee, who leads as creative director. “Beyond that, it takes a wide network of musicians, artists, food vendors and sound and lighting technicians to create the immersive world guests experience throughout the night,” Peltz says. In the end, supporters sit at the heart of it all. “Every ticket purchased, auction bid placed and donation made directly supports the Mattress Factory’s mission: giving artists the time, space, and freedom to create, and connecting audiences to those works in meaningful ways.”
“I love the way it radiates creative expression,” she adds. “It’s a living, breathing embodiment of the Mattress Factory,” she says. “A space where artists, creatives and the people who believe in our mission come together to celebrate art and creative freedom.”
By Corinne Whiting
Photos by Nicole Lockerman / Mattress Factory