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Shaleni McBain
More than a million people took to the streets of Toronto and saw the city uniquely transformed at the 7th annual Nuit Blanche on Saturday night.
“It really was a tremendous success for the curators, the artists, and the excited and exuberant audience that participated in the event,” Julian Sleath, programming manager of special events at the City of Toronto.
Sleath said there were over a million people who took to the streets to participate.
More than 150 projects were showcased across the city from art exhibits and live performances to movies projected across skyscrapers.
“There was the large scale exuberant interactions, and the deep and meaningful and quiet and tranquil ones as well,” said Sleath.
Local artist Joseph Wyciszkiewicz, who displayed his work on Queen Street West, said he had thousands of people come to see his work.
“This show made me realize, wow, people really do admire my work,” Wyciszkiewicz said. “For me it was a way of getting affirmation from people who were experiencing what I was trying to make them experience.”
Alex Kazam, a magician and performer, performed in last year’s Burlesque show at the Gladstone, but he had the opportunity to enjoy this year’s festivities.
“I want to see more unique installations, guerilla theatre, things that will make me react emotionally and things that will cause a controversial buzz. Isn’t that what art is meant to do? Otherwise it’s just art for the sake of art,” Kazam said.
Plans are already underway for the 2013 Scotiabank Nuit Blanche in Toronto.
“We work on a two- to two-and-a-half year planning cycle,” said Sleath.
The eighth annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche will come back to Toronto on October 5, 2013.