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<title>blogTO Recent Comments: Salvaging Nuit</title>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/feed/recentcomments/?7223</link>
<description>Comments recently made in this post on blogTO</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:41:08 PST</lastBuildDate>
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<title>Guy with cell phone</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I think it's more interesting to take part in interactive art, it's a reflection of everyone around it, rather than just of one person. This is what makes the Nuit Blanche concept so cool. It makes one stop to listen to the buzz of the city and hear a SOUND, not just a buzz.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c229099</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c229099</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:37:09 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Insomniac</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I think Joseph is right in thinking about what was positive on Nuit Blanche so it can be even better next year. I also agree that interactive exhibits and making the night your own are the ways to do that. 

I would suggest to the organizers of this event, which is a community event (and where families will be for the beginning of the night) is to focus exhibits/displays on the theme of FUN (which seemed to be the case the first year) and not Fear, a focus in many exhibits this year, which personally left me confused. 

Although art can express many emotions, something as widespread as Nuit Blanche should focus on the fun aspect, which is at the very least what people look for. 

I think fun doesn't have to mean complicated. For instance, I heard raves about the ball room and opening up swimming pools to the public in the first year, which was a successful year. This year, it seemed to me that people were having fun with picture frames, ghost sounds, marking their own footprint, or even appearing in front of a video screen at a dance party. 

It will be interesting to see if the organizers listen to the feedback and improve on the next year. 

Was it just me or did you guys feel that there were too many exhibits and the zones were too far from each other (well Zone A from Zone C)? ]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228938</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228938</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:32:54 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Boombox Guy</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Life is short so I'm gonna dance!]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228749</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228749</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:19:49 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>mishka</title>
<description><![CDATA[
My first impression as I stepped out into Nuit Blanche around 10pm in the Queen West Zone was that it was... Magnificent.  Why?  Because for the first time I felt like Toronto was a community of happy art revellers.  I felt like I was back in New York City with the families, the couples, the friends on the streets "oooing and ahhhing" at cool things to see on the windows, on the street.

Admittedly, when I met up with other pals at the ROM it was a letdown and especially the oh-so-hyped 'String of Diamonds' that I really wanted to check out.  Ta! Da! A string of lights held up by balloons.  Woopdeedoo.  Not to mention the hour long wait in Yorkville to get into the Lower Bay Station.

However; I had a great time.  And I can't wait for next year.  I will be prepared i.e. comfy shoes; light Fall jacket; snacks and water.

As much as the Yorkville area 'art' was a letdown I will say it was just so much FUN roaming the streets closed to traffic, EVERYONE out and about.  There was just this wonderful energy in the air that I don't want to let go of.  

See you next year!

]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228741</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228741</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:07:11 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Dan</title>
<description><![CDATA[
the lines were an abomination, and it seemed like ever other "piece" was some sort of video installation. but the best stuff was great - the locust, terrible noises for beautiful people - but that all involved real people doing real things. the crowd participation on the locust (yeah, ON, like people climbing on it) was intensely more fun than the poor excuse for "participation" in texting your message to some screen. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228712</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228712</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:38:23 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>sm</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I keep hearing people saying they were disappointed, but I was blown away. I'm tempted to call Nuit Blanche the high point of my year so far.

Sure, some of the art was a bit disappointing. Sure, the TTC service was inadequate. But it was just so exciting to see hundreds of thousands of happy people walking the streets of Toronto at night for ART! I couldn't stop smiling all night; it was such a beautiful thing.

Ultimately, it was the little things that made the night: the guys racing pimped out scooters, the "$300 lobotomy" billboards, the girl with wings we kept seeing, the rock balancers by the hug-me tree, the hilarious streetcar driver, tired giggling at 6 AM...

It was glorious -- and I hope it's even better next year.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228705</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228705</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:03:03 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Chris</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I agree that making Nuit Blanche is all about making the night your own. My friends and I simply walked around placing post it notes with haiku's we wrote on the spot about each exhibit. Everything we witnessed was quite inspiring in one way or another.

Those who were dissapointed in Nuit Blanche this year should be ashamed of themselves!]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228665</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228665</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:27:28 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Mark Dowling</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Clearly the TTC underperformed (running out of day passes for example) but part of that was down to three things:

1.  Queen Street congestion holding up streetcars
2.  Underestimation of turnout
3.  Lack of personnel

The (3) bit is important as the total hours TTC operators can work is restricted so basically the extra operators were volunteers for overtime rather than rostered.  This is one of the few times in recent history TTC ran a 24 hour subway service so I think *some* slack should be cut.  However, if NB is to happen next year we should expect the TTC to start planning for it immediately, including 
* streetcars on routes other than Queen and 
* reducing late night subway service on weekday nights if maintenance can be "front loaded" or "back loaded" to increase operator availability.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228655</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228655</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:04:59 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Maria</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Ah, I agree with the opinion about the lack of guides. It all started with the lame-ass flash-loaded website. It was absolutely not user-friendly. Too difficult to get an idea of what you wanted to do. And Eva had to almost beg someone at the Distillery for a guide, they knew they were in short supply and were kind of keeping them under the table. That could totally use some improvement!
But, Jerrold, I am no art critic but have seen my share of art, and I can say I had a GREAT time.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228639</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228639</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:53:23 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>mdintoronto</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Art has to be more than merely spectacle - one example (of many) at the U of T King's circle, the lame X-files(?) setting was less than inspiring - ET with Yoda? arrrhh!!]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228635</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228635</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:38:45 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Hans Lucas</title>
<description><![CDATA[
To me the entire night was like a disappointing one night stand with the girl you've been dreaming about for years. All this crazy build up and then the hype just doesn't live up to your imagination.

The city/organizers underplanned this entire thing. It wasn't the grand and inspiring art invasion that they made it out to be.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228629</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228629</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:25:59 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Gloria</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I'm with Sean here. Considering the vast number of exhibits (as well as a website that was annoying to navigate), it was hard to do thorough research in advance and pick places to go. I ended up wandering with my boyfriend, which I thought adhered to the true nature of Nuit Blanche anyway. 

It didn't really work out ... it was difficult to get through some streets, most of which should have been closed, and the traffic, along with enormous line-ups, killed some of spontaneity the event seems to stand for. That's not the fault of organizers, but it was clear that many people went to obvious spots -- e.g. the ROM -- because they weren't sure where else to go. 

Lots of exhibits were tucked away, which added a nice mood of finding hidden treasure when we did stumble upon something, but it also meant we missed a lot because we had no idea it was there. It's too bad guidebooks weren't available more widely ... a lot of people stopped us asking where we got ours.  

It was still enjoyable, but for the four hours we spent, we didn't see as much as we thought we would. Some people say it was better to attend in the later hours ... and we would have liked to do that, except our schedules really didn't let us do that. 

I'm still looking forward to next year ... could someone please fog up Philosopher's Walk again? I missed that last year! It can't hurt to repeat some popular exhibits ... for example, the idea of putting secrets up in public -- whether tied to a tree or dangling on a postcard -- is always a favourite.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228621</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228621</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:42:37 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Jerrold</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Maria: imagine how amazing it would have the energy of the people been the same AND the exhibits all been knock-your-socks-off good.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228619</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228619</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:35:31 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Maria</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I don't know why BlogTO and its readers are mostly saying it was disappointing. I agree with your post, it was the people that made it amazing. Everyone was out to have a good time and to have some contact/interaction with art.  We had an amazing time and it was the people and the whole atmosphere that made it so.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228615</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228615</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:23:20 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Sean</title>
<description><![CDATA[
My problem with Nuit Blanche was that it was too geographically big with little advance indication as to where I should direct my attention. As a result, I just showed up expecting to find something that was interesting.. by and large, I didn't find that. Galleries open late? Not interesting. Light shows that can't compete with laser light shows projected on buildings? Not interesting. ]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228610</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228610</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:08:34 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Simone</title>
<description><![CDATA[
the String of Diamond's exhibit near the ROM should be added to your list. My friends and I came to it thinking we could interact with it, and the moment we touched one of the lines the artist freaked on us, saying we were ruining the exhibit. His concept invited interaction, yet his demeanor put us all in a skeptical mindset. :( ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228602</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/arts/2007/10/salvaging_nuit/#c228602</guid>
<category>Toronto, Arts</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:15:56 PDT</pubDate>
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