I began my evening of Nuit Blanche – that now is in its ninth year – with great expectations and ambition, hoping to last well into the night. I was hardly alone as it seemed like half the city had the same idea.
My first stop was Made in China on Spadina Avenue by Maria Ezcurra of Montreal and Mexico City. The colourful clothing that hung there were all made and donated in China. It seemed like a good fit in Spadina’s Chinatown that was already overflowing with similar looking products in its many shops. Moving along to Spadina and Grange Avenue we reached the Black Sun by Alexandre Arrechea of Havana, Cuba. This was a swinging wrecking ball, that in the fringes of Kensington, seemed like a warning of gentrification happening all around Toronto.
Made in China by Maria Ezcurra
Black Sun by Alexandre Arrechea
The Problem of Beauty by DineoSeshee Bopape of Johannesburg, South Africa used a parking garage ramp to project the video work, best described as a cosmic journey. There were a number of Screaming Booths by Chelane Beaudin-Quitin of Montreal that offered visitors the opportunity to scream, cry or laugh without disturbance. Walk Among the World by Maximo Gonzalez of Mexico City had long line ups and consisted of 7,000 colourful globe coloured beach balls in an installation that people could wander through while thinking of the many cultures and countries that make up our world.
Screaming Booths by Chelane Beaudin-Quitin
Walk Among the World by Maximo Gonzalez
By Means of A Sigh (À portée de souffle) by Chloé Lefebvre and Jean Dubois of Montreal was an interactive installation triggered by visitors’ mobile phones. People on screen blew up bubble gum bubbles connecting with each other until they burst. AMAZE on Queen Street West was a maze created by Marcos Zotes of Iceland. A large line up of visitors wanted to walk through it convinced me, although worthwhile, I had little time to squeeze it in. Gap Ecology (Still Lives with Cherry Pickers and Palms) created by David Brooks of New York was pretty impressive with its palm trees towering over Queen St. West. Shy Lights, created by Nathan Whitford of Toronto, on Duncan Street near Queen West was fun as visitors had to chase the spotlights as they were programmed to avoid people on the street; an interactive game for old and young alike. The sculpture Silent Rise by Glenda Leon of Havana had musical connotations in its structure.
By Means of A Sigh (À portée de souffle) by Chloé Lefebvre and Jean Dubois
AMAZE by Marcos Zotes
Gap Ecology (Still Lives with Cherry Pickers and Palms) by David Brooks
Crowd with Gap Ecology (Still Lives with Cherry Pickers and Palms)
Shy Lights by Nathan Whitford
City Hall was busy with throngs of people. It was glowing green from Wanwu: Metamorphosis created by Bingyi of Bejing China with its glowing green light from the City Halls podium green roof. On the pools in front of city hall stood two large tanks from the Monument to North America Energy Security by the CanAmerican Energy Arts Team of Calgary. It was to celebrate the importance of oil bridging Canada and the US. What turned out to be my final destination was a surprise. It was Threshold a performance art piece by Michael Smith of Brooklyn, New York taking place in the City Hall chambers. Guests were invited to sit in council chairs or in the observation seats surrounding the chamber. The performance was entertaining and absurd in its context much possible like what goes on ocasionally at council. The make up of council certainly was refrehing, representing a diverse make up of the city including race and age.
Monument to North American Energy Security by CanAmerican Energy Arts Team
Threshold a performance art piece by Michael Smith
My feet gave out on me and my six year old son had already fallen asleep in city hall chambers so I decided to make the trip home, happy to have had a brief five hour experience of Nuit Blanche knowing I had missed many contemporary works but still satisfied to have gotten a taste of the night’s offerings. Next year I will try to see more and wear more comfortable shoes.
Text and photo: Phil Anderson
Thanks, Phil. The Monument to North American Energy Security later spilled a leak and filled the fountain with oil… later some graffiti artists painted skulls on the tanks and then the Toronto Fire Department arrived in Hazmat suits to clean up the leak.