Need a reason to pull an all-nighter? What better way to stay up from dusk to dawn than by celebrating contemporary art at Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche. Otherwise known to me as, The Greatest Night Out.
Last Saturday, October 3, Torontonians and tourists filled the downtown core for the fourth annual event. Featured for 12 hours, free art, music and live performances in 130 projects pooled together the community and artists from around the world.
Art-lovers braced a quick down pour early in the evening, but that did not dampen our spirits. In fact the weather cooperated well into sunrise and I stayed toasty warm in just tights and cotton hoody topped with a light pea coat, neck-wrapped by a cashmere scarf.
So what did I see? Well, you can watch how my evening unfolded in this clip:
Many thanks to Robin, Kawin and Nhu Nhat who helped with the camera-work.
Overall, it was a respectable and fun year. Commendably, the event was more audience-friendly than the years prior. Aside from the awesome new Night Navigator applications for iPhone and BlackBerry users, activities allowed audience members to be a part of the art. Streets were filled with dozens of vendors offering free food and “Mercy” blankets were handed out to keep to the nocturnal warm.
Though the success of the event attracts more visitors each year and is a major contributing source of revenue, The Toronto Sun reports, “Given the economic downturn and with arts-friendly Mayor David Miller not running for a third term, events like Nuit Blanche could be put on the chopping block in the next municipal election as candidates try to outdo each other with promises of restraint.”
Removing Nuit Blanche from the line up of Toronto events would be a huge mistake. Nuit Blanche has become a favoured evening for many to look forward to. It’s a time to showcase the significance of art and re-fuel the interest of culture that we so evidently see less of in today’s generation. What other city event transforms Toronto into a stage?
I will be very disappointed should Nuit Blanche not return in 2010. Very.
Don’t take White Night away from us. It is the only event that has the ability to open eyes to the beauty that is the heart of the city.
D. A. Therrien’s “Beautiful Light: 4 Letter Word Machine” at Toronto City Hall, which consisted of four light machines suspended in the air between the two towers.
