Take the ultimate selfie at the PNE fair
Credit to Author: Nick Eagland| Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:24:22 +0000
Some might snicker at a room packed with selfie-takers striking poses, but it’s impossible to resist joining in the fun at Snap Happy: A Do-It-Your-Selfie Experience, a new exhibit at the PNE fair.
Open daily in the Rollerland Building from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Snap Happy takes self-portrait photography to the extreme, providing 21 elaborate, interactive displays for fairgoers to use as backdrops for their best smartphone snaps.
Snap Happy starts with “Pinwheel Garden,” an ode to the PNE’s logo but also offers visitors a black-and-white roller coaster car, pink polka-dot cow, colour-changing neon rays, a wall of midway-games stuffed animals and hamburger that requires a human patty. (For a better idea of what’s in store, search for #PNESnapHappy on Instagram, Twitter and other social media.)
“Pop-up Instagram pavilions are popular all over the world,” said Patrick Roberge, creative director at the PNE fair. “We used to have gigantic chairs on site and thousands of people would take pictures of them. We thought, ‘Why don’t we do a whole attraction that celebrates the fair, but also gives people a chance to jump into the Instagram world?’ ”
Snap Happy celebrates the “whimsy” of the fair by showcasing elements like food, rides and animals, Roberge said. He said the fair’s art director, Dan Planko, was the “design genius” behind the displays, while the lighting designer, Rob Sondergaard, carefully ensured that every face can easily find a flattering angle.
The exhibit has brought its share of YouTube and Instagram influencers, but mostly just regular folks who want to take fun photos and share them with their friends around the globe, Roberge said.
“You’ll see moms and dads and grandparents and kids — and everyone in between — just having a great time,” he said. “The infectious happiness of what you get by doing it together is what’s been most rewarding for us.”
Selfie-takers aren’t too selfish and the exhibit moves quickly so that everyone can take a turn with each display. Roberge said he’s pleased with how popular the easy-to-use attraction has been.
“We spend a lot of time building big, elaborate shows and attractions,” he said. “What I love about this attraction is that it’s just simple, it’s fun, there’s an instant payoff and everyone loves it. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.”
The PNE fair runs until Monday. Snap Happy is free with admission to the fair.