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  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. Canada
  3. Toronto

Zombies, Mascots Draw Crowds at Third Annual Nuit Blanche

Susan O'Neill
October 6, 2008

The city’s special events department estimates as many as one million people took to the streets Saturday for the third annual Nuit Blanche—a cultural festival modeled on the all-night celebration of contemporary art that originated in Paris in 2002. Produced by the City of Toronto in conjunction with the arts community, this year’s instalment featured 155 destinations throughout the city. More than 750 artists and curators, 92 galleries, museums, cultural and educational institutions, 450 volunteers, and 24 corporate sponsors participated in the free event.

“Scotiabank Nuit Blanche has turned into a visible manifestation of our city’s deep cultural fermentation,” Rita Davies, Toronto’s executive director of cultural services, said in a statement. “It demonstrates that creativity is the beating heart of Toronto.” Mascots danced on the field at Lamport Stadium, zombies took over College Park, and Toronto City Hall became an interactive computer screen for Blinkenlights'  "Stereoscope," a multimedia installation that was broadcast live on the Web and will continue every night until Friday.

The 2008 program, created under the direction of four curators, included 45 commissioned works along with a host of independent projects. Organizers divided the city into three Zones—A, B, and C. According to the online program, curator Gordon Hatt handled Zone A—the downtown north area— which included a series of exhibition projects exploring "feelings of belonging and alienation in an ephemeral and playful manner." In Zone B—the downtown south area—curator Wayne Baerwaldt selected 15 "sentimental and spooky installations that endeavour to blur the lines between performer and audience." Zone C included two curated exhibitions in the Liberty Village area; Haema Sivanesan's seven "provocative" installations and Dave Dyment's eight installations delving "into concepts of hope and expectation."

Plans are already under way for the fourth Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, set to take place on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

Katharine Harvey's 'Waterfall '
Katharine Harvey's \"Waterfall\"
Photo: Jill Kitchener for BizBash
The Berlin-based Project Blinkenlights transformed Toronto City Hall into a display screen for 'Stereoscope' by placing lamps behind each of the 960 windows.
The Berlin-based Project Blinkenlights transformed Toronto City Hall into a display screen for "Stereoscope" by placing lamps behind each of the 960 windows.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Brendan Fernandas used lighting to broadcast S-O-S in Morse code in 'Future,' an installation of shipping containers in Liberty Village.
Brendan Fernandas used lighting to broadcast S-O-S in Morse code in "Future," an installation of shipping containers in Liberty Village.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
A performer entertained passersby outside the Liberty Café.
A performer entertained passersby outside the Liberty Café.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Noni Kaur filled the length and breadth of Hanna Avenue with dried coconut for 'Sniff, Lick, Pinch, Nibble, Swallow.....'
Noni Kaur filled the length and breadth of Hanna Avenue with dried coconut for "Sniff, Lick, Pinch, Nibble, Swallow....."
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Australian artist Ruark Lewis used 550 50-gallon drums to create 'Euphemisms for the Intimate Enemy,' a multimedia installation exploring the limits of language.
Australian artist Ruark Lewis used 550 50-gallon drums to create "Euphemisms for the Intimate Enemy," a multimedia installation exploring the limits of language.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Members of the public could write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to the branch of a tree at Yoko Ono's installation, entitled 'Imagine Peace.'
Members of the public could write a wish on a piece of paper and tie it to the branch of a tree at Yoko Ono's installation, entitled "Imagine Peace."
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
For 'Overflow,' Montreal artist Michel de Broin created the illusion of a waterfall flowing from a third storey window at a former prison chapel on East Liberty Street.
For "Overflow," Montreal artist Michel de Broin created the illusion of a waterfall flowing from a third storey window at a former prison chapel on East Liberty Street.
Photo: Gary Beechey for BizBash
Katharine Harvey created a quilt composed of recyclable plastic bottles for an installation called 'Waterfall,' which hung from the north side of the Ontario Power Generation Building.
Katharine Harvey created a quilt composed of recyclable  plastic bottles for an installation called "Waterfall," which hung from the north side of the Ontario Power Generation Building.
Photo: Jill Kitchener for BizBash
Jill McDonald encouraged members of the public to dress up as zombies for 'Zombies in Condoland,' an installation designed to mimic a film set for a low-budget horror film.
Jill McDonald encouraged members of the public to dress up as zombies for "Zombies in Condoland," an installation designed to mimic a film set for a low-budget horror film.
Photo: Jill Kitchener for BizBash
'Into the Blue,' a giant transparent cone-shaped balloon created by Fujiwara Takahiro, hung inside the Eaton Centre.
"Into the Blue," a giant transparent cone-shaped balloon created by Fujiwara Takahiro, hung inside the Eaton Centre.
Photo: Jill Kitchener for BizBash
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