northpublik: design above the 44th parallel

the Drake Hotel

If you had the good fortune of checking out Toronto’s first Nuit Blanche in 2006, then you’ll know that it has immense potential for being one of the coolest events you’ve encountered in our fair city. If you had the misfortune of checking out the same event a year later, you’ll know it has the same potential to tip the scale and become an example of how commercializing an art event can suck the very life out of it.

So it is with trepidation that I post about the recently-announced, third annual “all-night contemporary art thing” as I’m not quite sure how it will pan out. The 2006 event was one that had no expectations and as a result was both inspired and inspiring. Starting at Trinity Bellwoods with a friend and walking for hours throughout Toronto’s streets, encountering everything from the sweetest Free Hugs girl ever to foggy parks to a random percussion circle in a beautifully-designed space that lasted 12 hours straight was an experience that kept me talking about it for days [although—sadly—I apparently missed some pretty sexy shows further west].

what’s not to love about a roman bath?

I was vibrating in anticipation to hear the confirmation that it would, indeed, return the following year, supposedly bigger and better than before. What a huge disappointment to have to force my way through throngs of people, carried all-too-quickly past the exhibits, past formal signs touting Scotia Bank’s generosity, and finally having to give it up and return home in frustration.

Could they possibly fuck it up again? As one who desperately wants artists to be at the forefront of Toronto culture, I’m willing to try it again this year—it will be a best 2 out of 3. The Queen West Zone is probably your best bet [hey, it is one of the most interesting parts of the city if you appreciate non-commercial art, Nuit Blanche or not]. Let’s hope it doesn’t spread too far and wide, so you can actually experience most of the art without having to transport yourselves via motorized vehicle. Be wary of anything with large logo-laden signs, and you should be fine.

You can check out this year’s line-up here. It’s worth at least the most basic of ventures outside that late at night, if for nothing than to just people-watch. Third time’s a charm, right?

[Nuit Blanche is also held in Montreal in the late winter, as well as internationally in way swankier locales like Brussels, Madrid, Rome, Latvia, and Paris]

photo creds: northpublik, nuit blanche 2006