Pop Factory: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego's 41st Annual Gala

Shiny,shiny aluminum covered windows, Lou Reed's lyrics echoing in the distance, with positive spirits all around. Pop Factory was an inspirational night of creatives, art appreciation, and philanthropy.

I have visited the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego(MCASD) on numerous occasions. In my recent visit I took part in their 41st annual gala, POP Factory, a soiree themed after Andy Warhol's infamous New York City Studio.

A true San Diego legacy, according to Leah Straub, MCASD's Communication & Marketing Manager, the "Annual gala is a San Diego tradition and one of the most popular social events in the region. Serving as the Museum’s primary annual fundraiser, the event has raised more than $5 million in the last 15 years in support of the Museum’s ambitious exhibition schedule and public programs." The Museum's downtown location set a new scene of opportunities for the gala, a new sense of space and environment was created with endless possibilities of transformation.

Andy Warhol's famous "Campbell's Soup" cans, an iconic piece of pop art history, decorated the wall and greeted me as I walked in. To my right, was a screen test/photo booth set up in Warhol fashion, which had people lining up in groups, for their "15 minutes" of spotlight.

In the room over, cocktails were being served to the sounds of the DJ & factory people dancing. Within, there was a room with moody red lighting, oblong full length mirrors, and silver Mylar balloons, mimicking Warhol's "Silver Clouds".

On the walls played projections, in black and white, of party-goers in different areas of the museum, an homage to Warhol's "people watching" sensibility.

Outside a cover band played everything from Velvet Underground to David Bowie, with a lead singer who could belt out "Love Me Two Times"like Jim Morrison himself.

Pop Factory was a fresh take on a classic, eccentric, as well as vibrant. This year's Chairs for the fundraiser, Jay and Jennifer Levitt spoke on their excitement for the event and the museum stating that, "It's exciting to be part of an organization that is committed to artists creating work in our time." According to Straub, "Jay really looked forward to the event breaking tradition by being held downtown," "This is a chance to breathe new life into a San Diego staple," said Jay.

For myself,Pop Factory was well thought out, and an amazing event to attend.