Nuit Blanche is an annual art festival that takes place in various cities around the world, including Toronto. It starts at sunset and finishes up at sunrise. Over one million people flood the streets and take in the various exhibits scattered throughout the downtown. This is what it looked like on Queen Street West this year.
Queen Street West closed to traffic and open to thousands
Over the years, the festival itself has been great and other years, boring. Last year, dry. This year, fun and inspiring. People enjoyed themselves and the energy was great.One of the exhibits that really made it for me was the Global Rainbow.
Created by Yvette Mattern, it consists of a ‘high specification laser light projection beaming in parallel horizontal lines creating a natural perspective horizon arc simulating a natural rainbow arc with a trajectory of up to 60 km’.
Impressive.
It wasn’t projecting that far but it can be seen from virtually any point in downtown Toronto. Three people supervise the installation from the top of a parking lot in Kensington Market, about 2km NNW of the CN Tower and watch as curious onlookers set up tripods and selfies with what is considered to be a symbol of peace and hope.
It’s a great display because it’s not every day that streaming lasers are beamed across two points in the Toronto skyline. And the symbolism rocks.
Luckily, this exhibit continued long after the festival ended. Great news for those of us who wanted a second look and a chance to get some good shots without the crowds getting in the way.
Got a favourite Nuit Blanche exhibit? Share the love.
Jim Bamboulis has held several posts over the past 12 years, including National Sportscaster, Food Host and Writer, Talk Show Host, Olympic Researcher and Travel Film-maker.
Born and raised in Toronto, Jim learned early on that the combination of travel and food meant ultimate living. Combining his insatiable creative spirit and desire to document his travels, Jim took his unshakable travel bug and set off to explore. Add the fact that Jim also grew up in a Greek household and he learned that not only does Mom always make the best meals, but as importantly learned the importance of understanding and appreciating the countless beautiful cultures and the integral role food plays in every corner of the World.
In August 2009, Jim founded Travel Mammal, a site that brings together his travels and experiences (both good and terrifying) with the hope that others are inspired to share their own. We are all storytellers, especially when it comes to travel and food. He urges everyone to be inspired, explore and love the world and the people that share it with us. Or in other words, Live to Travel and travel to live!
