Toronto City Hall - Nuit Blanche 2009
Inspired by Paris’ well-known event, Toronto has been holding its own Nuit Blanche for the past 4 years and this year’s event was held on October 3rd from 6:55 pm to sunrise. Torontonians ran around the “remixed” downtown core to explore installations, exhibits and performances from local and international artists.
Heather Nicol’s installation Imminent Departure
Part of the fun was gaining access to some of Toronto’s spaces that aren’t usually hives of activity in the dead of the night. Highlights included Wild Ride: the taking over of Toronto’s Bay St (the business district) by Winnipeg artist, Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan’s interactive exhibit that brought mid-way rides (a giant slide!) and cotton candy to the usually barren financial corridor. Heather Nicol’s installation Imminent Departure in Toronto’s historic Union Station was amazing and using sound, light projections and steam jets, hauntingly captured the activity of a central urban train station. Ryan Stecs’, Bright Lights Big City, saw Toronto’s iconic CN Tower lit up with a light show synced to heavy house beats broadcast on public radio.