With Nuit Blanche now in its fourth year, discerning viewers probably have a good idea of what kind of work to expect, just as art students have a good idea of what kind of work to expect from their next crit. With 130 projects created by close to 400 artists, 2009 will indeed recall previous years’ exhibits, from fog to projections on a screen near you. Translating this year’s artspeak into real talk, we present the highlights.
METAPHORIC PROJECTIONS
Beautiful Light: 4 Letter Word Machine, D.A. Therrien
Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen W., Zone A
Using Toronto’s City Hall towers as his canvas, electronic artist D.A. Therrien will project one of 4.94 billion graphic combinations to display any four-letter word in any language for all the city to see. We so hope it’s not “poop.”
Invade, Kuo I-Chen
Metro Grocery Store, 100 Lynn Williams, Zone C
Chen stages the shadow of an airplane, reminiscent of the jets that crashed into the 9/11 towers, on the ceiling of a local grocery store. Shop at your own risk.
SOUNDSCAPES
Space Becomes The Instrument, Gordon Monahan
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria, Zone A
Standing onstage at Massey Hall instead of in the audience, attendees will watch performers tug on vibrating piano wires to create intense waves of sound. Neil Young would be proud.
The Sonic Fun House, Christine Duncan’s Element Choir & Orchestra
Atrium On Bay, 40 Dundas W, Zone A
Not so much “fun” as “housed” in the contorted halls of The Atrium On Bay, this piece will have audiences trying to emulate choir director Christine Duncan’s unique instructions to create an endless cacophony.
GIGANTIC FLOATING OBJECTS
Rabbit Balloon, Jeff Koons
Toronto Eaton Centre, Trinity Way, 220 Yonge, Zone A
Marquee artist Jeff Koons lends his oversized silver bunny to the already surreal digs of the Eaton Centre. Facebook profile pic opp, anyone?
As Could Be, Paulette Phillips
Old Bank Of Toronto Building, 205 Yonge (rear entrance), Zone A
There will be fog: Paulette Phillips projects three-dimensional animation onto the substance, inspired by a 1917 architectural model by Vladmir Tatlin. In addition, a looped voice installation will feature Torontonians talking about their work — as if you could get them to shut up.
ROOMS FILLED WITH STUFF
Vodka Pool, Dan Mihaltianu
Lobby of Commerce Court West, 25 King W., Zone B
At the only exhibit where you could potentially lick the floor, a glistening pool of 80-proof vodka will soak up viewers’ attentions all night long.
Rescue Bubble, Tomer Diamant
Intersection of Liberty and Mowat, Zone C
Aiming to deconstruct society’s dependence on unsustainable resources, Tomer Diamant plans to stack a whole bunch of traffic pylons on top of each other. Yup.
EPIPHANIES IN THE BANAL
10 Scents, Chih-Chien Wang
Union Station, exterior corner of Bay and Front (lower level), Zone B
According to Chih-Chien Wang’s proposal, you’ll come for the portable toilet but stay for the smells that conjure “Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy and logic-twister Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Dance of the Cranes, Brandon Vickerd
Liberty Towers Construction Site, Liberty E. and Pirandello, Zone C
In collaboration with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Toronto artist Brandon Vickerd has choreographed a 13-minute dance between two construction cranes. Could it be Swan Lake for meatheads?
ENVIRO-ART
The Lost and Found Forest, Jerome McGrath, Rina Grosman
Atlantic, South, at GO Station entrance, Zone C
Recreating our lost habitat, a darkened street becomes a man-made forest of string, nails and an electro soundscape.
Byron Kent Wong, Micha Dahan and The National Parcs, The Uncommon and the Tents
Dundee Place, 1 Adelaide E., Zone B
From “Timbervision Videosynth” comes our city’s new and improved virtual forest. The public takes charge of Timbervision’s audio/visual qualities, creating their own natural environment.
ART THAT ALLAYS WHITE GUILT
The Apology Project, Maria Legault
Liberty Market Building Atrium Corridor West, 171 Liberty E., Hanna Entrance, Zone C
Maria Legault has recruited 55 subjects wearing brown paper bags to apologize to everyone they meet for 12 hours straight, thus investigating Toronto’s tormented relationship with its own politeness.
Please Do Not Disturb, Skeena Reece
Covered walkway between Horse Palace and Ricoh Centre, Manitoba Drive, CNE Grounds, Zone C
Aboriginal performance artist Skeena Reece will engage with the public through controlled instant messaging. Add her on Facebook.
PARTICIPATORY PERFORMANCE ART
Hey Dave!, Dave Clarke, Chris Hanney, Morgan Russell, Sandi Becker, Jen Cameron
Front steps of Old City Hall, 60 Queen W., Zone A
In a simple execution of not-so-simple relational aesthetics, everyone in Toronto will get the opportunity to say “hey” to artist Dave Clarke.
Toronto Public Library, Dance Dance Evolution!
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge, Zone A
Nothing’s more wholesome than an all-ages dance party at the Toronto Reference Library. Unless, of course, you’re sloshed.
MARATHON PERFORMANCE ART
Casa Loma presents Corpus Dance, Le Grand Peep Show by Corpus at the Stables of Casa Loma
The Stables of Casa Loma, 328 Walmer, Zone A
A sexy dance performance in PVC vests takes up the first room, while brave viewers can check out the back room peep show at the Casa Loma stables all nuit long….
How to Win the Lottery, Melissa Brown
First Canadian Place, 100 King W., lower level, Zone B
For 12 hours straight, Melissa Brown will perform a series of lectures on how one might win the lottery — with special guests!
3 A.M. EXPERIENCES
Battle Royal, Shaun El C. Leonardo
Toronto Coach Terminal, 610 Bay, Zone A
Staged in the Toronto Coach Terminal, this gladiatorial battle between athletes and, later in the night, professional wrestlers, will get ugly. 3am seems like just the right time to swing by.
Wild Ride, Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan
Bay, between Adelaide W. and King W., Zone B
A real-life carnival, with games and everything, is set up in the ruined Bay Street financial district, staffed by real-life victims of the financial crash!