Q&A with Maria Galura, Founder and Artist at Calgary Party 50

Last December, Hewlko Creative Direction + Design participated in an Instagram giveaway. It was in partnership with Hook + Ladder, WILD PR and Roam Creative. Our portion of the giveaway included a workshop and Brand Foundation Document that included purpose, promise, attributes and a brand story. Maria had not outlined her audience sets to date, but had a clear understanding of them, so we also got a start outlining three distinct audience sets. From the initial kick off call through to final presentation, I was impressed with Maria’s warmth, gratitude and ability to tell stories with passion. I cherished the time we spent together and wanted to bring a piece of this warmth and happiness to you! Let’s get into a Q&A with Maria Galura!

Tell me a bit about your background? And professional career?
I have a degree in Industrial Engineering at Saint Louis University and right after got an apprenticeship doing Time and Motion Studies at Texas Instruments Philippines, North Luzon. I defined a timeline of production for high volume products from die interface to shipping.

Then I worked as a Warehousing Foreman at Trust International Paper Corporation, I was the only female keyman at that time. It was a paper mill and used waste paper from around the world to produce newsprint and white paper for Asia and the local market. I got to receive Canadian waste paper back in 40’ cans back in 2006 for recycling!

I took my Masters in Management at University of the Philippines while working FT, 6 days a week and the 7th was spent in graduate school.

I moved on to be part of the startup team at Texas Instruments in Central Luzon. I completed my Masters as I was only working 5 days a week, so 1 day for graduate school then 1 day for rest.

As an Industrial Engineer lead, I helped ramp capacity from 200,000 chips per day to 7M over 2+ years. It was for capital expenditures, tool count across 3 plants, manpower planning, and man machine ratio. The best part is planning capacity on paper to see machines on the floor, producing quantities as planned based on Time and Motion Studies. Most of the chips in the semiconductor were used by Apple. We were making chips for the iPhone 5 before I left. This was my last job prior to immigrating to Canada with my husband in October 2011. The iPhone 4s was released when I landed in Calgary, so that was my first iPhone, proudly knowing a chip most likely came from the manufacturing facility I spent my best career days at.

In Calgary, I took Project Management Fundamentals from the University of Calgary while working full time in Oil and Gas as a Planner/Scheduler. I’ve been fortunate to have been in that industry since 2011 and only laid off in May 2020 due to COVID-19.

What led you to starting Calgary Party 50? What led you to balloons?
I had leftover party supplies from my daughter's first birthday party, it was Stampede themed as it was the 100th year! I sold that on Kijiji and the mom I sold it to was impressed. I moved on and did my daughter’s 2nd birthday and sold the leftovers again. Did the same on her 3rd birthday. But this time, the mother wanted me to help her plan out her daughter’s. I was paid $100 to craft lollipop invites, rent out candy bar glass jar sets and a few balloons. That was in September 2014. In January 2015, I got a local business licence and bought a domain, knowing one day it will be of good use and I would do something better! I made my own website for fun and posted it to mom Facebook groups. I proceeded to build a party in a bin - a fully customized set with $1 or $2 decor rentals and disposable plates/napkins/cups/paper straws/water bottles. All for $50, thus Calgary Party 50.

I was inspired by moms selling through BIN SYSTEM- its honest, private and flexible. It worked for me as I made the bins after work hours, then would leave the bin on my doorstep before I left for work and the mom’s would pick up at their convenience. Then return rentals via the BIN SYSTEM too.

There were flat balloons in the party bin and at times, the moms needed to go out of their way to get a helium tank at Party City, Walmart or Michael’s. So I included inflated balloons as a ‘concierge’ service to add convenience.

Back story: It rang a bell as back in university, I sold balloons every Valentine’s Day as part of my student organization fundraising campaign. But I sold potted tulips (in a tropical country, and it was expensive! I added a care tag to ‘water’ these with 3 ice cubes) to our dean so I can make money! Students don’t have much, haha. I also made large air-filled balloon bouquets at premium prices. I loved it.

Anyway in High School, I sold hamburgers to my classmates. I cooked them at 6:30 am and walked to school at 7:15 am (about 10 minutes). At recess, I’d sell out. I took pre-orders and had a few waitlists, it was a fun system for me.

When I was 8, I sold candies in my classroom too. I used my mother’s big Tupperware sewing kit, perfect to present an organized candy variety.

In 2017, I saw a call for submissions at Beakerhead. In my heart, I knew that was the avenue I could make my wildest dreams come true as it's a festival mash-up of engineering, art, and science. I felt like I belonged. That was my first balloon art installation and the rest is history.

I have always loved balloons since I was a young girl. When I was 8, waiting for Sunday mass to be done so I can ask my father to get me a red one. He died 16 years ago, which makes this ALL the more this is special to me. He would help me load balloons in a taxi when I was in university. Today, it is as if he is with me when I work with balloons, he is in my heart.

Tell us about the types of projects you do and the range of clients you have.
A small bundle of helium balloons to 8,000 air-filled biodegradable balloons brings delight to all types of people from all walks of life. But I have three main types of events that are pretty typical.

Corporate events - marathon decor to marketing campaigns and milestone celebrations. Marketing, PR and Event Stylists and Wedding Designers too!
Private family parties - over the top celebrations, are wonderful to be part of. Mostly women order the balloons - moms, bridesmaids, the bride herself or BFFs!
Community events - charity gala, promoting public spaces and festivals

I’d like to ensure the joy balloons can offer are accessible to all, so participating in community events means everyone can have a special moment to remember. And thankfully, helium balloons and mini installations made the business thrive during the pandemic as the big events evaporated since lockdown.

Installation during #ChromaYYC presented by PARK.

Installation during #KensigntonBRIGHT presented by PARK.

What are your favorite kinds of projects to work on?

Anything that is community-based and accessible to all walks of life.

What’s the most memorable work you’ve done?

Nucleation, An Ode to Bubbles. This was the first one I did with Beakerhead back in 2017 and it was along 7th Ave by the C-train tracks. I used to work downtown and my commute was an hour from our front door to my desk. So, I used those hours to daydream, plan out and email my clients. Two hours a day counts for a lot and I made the C-train my balloon office. This piece was tied to Bubble Man, Jonathan Sunstrum, who put on a show at rush hour blowing smoke bubbles on 3rd Street. It was whimsical. Years later, little did I know I’d be doing something out of that daily experience, from seeing his bubbles. It was meant to be.

I had zero balloon art installation experience and Beakerhead supported all that was needed to deliver that. I built those balloon sections easily but my 6-month-old daughter was teething so she was in a carrier while I built the sculptures. I wanted to build all of the sections (40’ long x 30 sets), but I let my husband do the rest (about 5?) as my back was killing me. The pain was worth it though.

Mid festival, I stopped to see the wonder we all made and for a moment, I realized, my dream came true. We had been planning it since February and by September it was on 7th Ave, dancing with the wind tunnel as the trains sped by. It was a very memorable and defining experience for me.

Is there a dream project or client you’d love to work with?
Canada Day - Parliament of Canada. To execute a white and red installation with volunteers. This is on my bucket list and is fuelled with gratitude to the country I now call home.

What are some of the best lessons you’ve learned so far?
As long as I am true to what I do and the work serves and exalts something beyond myself, I sleep well.

What have been some of your biggest challenges?
Weather is a page-turner for me. I can now add -40C (2021) in my list of working conditions after 50 kph wind gusts (2018) for the outdoor installations. Rain, fog, snow, and heat don't bother me. Only gusts and the polar vortex, ahahaha.

Planning and scheduling is my forte but sometimes I have to drop everything as my family comes first. Now I have backup plans to ensure that will not happen again.

Listening to my body is a priority. I have made installations 6 months postpartum (2017). I topped that with a month postpartum (2019). I took care of myself FIRST to be able to take care of my children WELL so I can do what I LOVE. I planned it and was successful. It was HARD. Discipline and respecting my body to heal with time is a journey I took seriously.

What does the future hold for Calgary Party 50?
As long there is delight in what I create, I’ll do it. Multi-city installations are on the list. Sustainability of balloon waste is also a firm action plan for me to execute.

What books are on your nightstand or any podcasts you listen to?
I have iBooks mainly and read depending on how I need to refill my emotional and strategic planning buckets. Gosh, lately I have read a book while I was in the salon, haha.

The Power of Moments - Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Talking to Strangers - Malcolm Gladwell
Educated - Tara Westover
Option B - Sheryl Sandberg

P.S. For fun, I have read Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems in 3 days. When Sex and Vanity came out, I was done in a day. Otherwise, interrupted by 3 girls. Yay to Kevin Kwan.

What do you like to do for fun?

I’m boring, I’ll sleep for fun.

I stare at the flowers at Costco or Safeway. It takes me back to the afternoons when my mother would let me skip naps and bring me to the local orchidarium.

So lately, I always get myself fine art florals at Flower Artistry, Lyn Chapman. She is my fairy godmother of flowers and her creations bring me a thousand fold of happiness.

I organize the bins and bins of balloons and do a mental inventory.

Dinner or opera or ballet or CPO with a gayfriend as my husband sleeps through these.

With the girls, we roam downtown and go to the Central Library. Best days.

Where can people find you? How do they hire you?

Email please: balloons@calgaryparty50.ca

Instagram: @calgaryparty50

qaTori EnglishMarch 15, 2021Comment