When Nuit Blanche launched in 2006, it had an intimate, art community vibe. Flasks were loaded up, and groups of artists stumbled around, checking out the installations, exhibitions and happenings. Although an estimated 425,000 attended the all night party, It was a calm, exciting event.
The next year, Nuit Blanche exploded.....it had doubled in attendance, over 800,00 people took to the streets and It was disorganised bedlam. It clearly was unprecedented and unanticipated that the all night arts event would explode in this way. The sidewalks were loaded, people were spilling out onto the street in traffic, getting around Queen street was impossible as everyone moved in a jerky shuffle.
Year two, despite it's chaos was my favourite. It was the year that "Night Swim" happened, the all night pool party, that had many djs vying for a chance to spin. The dressing rooms were a mess of naked bodies, muddied floors and beer. A young guy dressed in a tweed hat and overcoat pretended to dance up to the edge of the pool then threw himself in, inflatable pink flamingos squeaked against wet bodies, beach balls were tossed around.
It was magic. And I really can't see this happening ever again. The next year, the optics changed...it was very organised, and continues to evolve annually.
While downtown picking up some jewellery supplies, I shot some images of the installation, "Garden Tower in Toronto", by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata. It was interesting to see the piece installed next to a massive church, and the juxtaposition between the church spires and the massive chair column was impressive. The chairs are fixed to a metal frame structure, and it has an opening, that passes all the way through the bottom, much like a tunnel. It is being protected by security and fencing at the moment, so you can't walk inside until the big night!
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/
The next year, Nuit Blanche exploded.....it had doubled in attendance, over 800,00 people took to the streets and It was disorganised bedlam. It clearly was unprecedented and unanticipated that the all night arts event would explode in this way. The sidewalks were loaded, people were spilling out onto the street in traffic, getting around Queen street was impossible as everyone moved in a jerky shuffle.
Year two, despite it's chaos was my favourite. It was the year that "Night Swim" happened, the all night pool party, that had many djs vying for a chance to spin. The dressing rooms were a mess of naked bodies, muddied floors and beer. A young guy dressed in a tweed hat and overcoat pretended to dance up to the edge of the pool then threw himself in, inflatable pink flamingos squeaked against wet bodies, beach balls were tossed around.
It was magic. And I really can't see this happening ever again. The next year, the optics changed...it was very organised, and continues to evolve annually.
While downtown picking up some jewellery supplies, I shot some images of the installation, "Garden Tower in Toronto", by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata. It was interesting to see the piece installed next to a massive church, and the juxtaposition between the church spires and the massive chair column was impressive. The chairs are fixed to a metal frame structure, and it has an opening, that passes all the way through the bottom, much like a tunnel. It is being protected by security and fencing at the moment, so you can't walk inside until the big night!
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/
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