Metalworks Production Group and Nuit Blanche

For the past two years, Metalworks Production Group has provided technical support for the recently-established Toronto event Nuit Blanche (Sleepless Night). On Friday, October 3rd, MPG staff found themselves up at 7 a.m. sharp, loading and unloading lighting and sound gear in preparation for the all-night event, which started on the evening of the 4th (at 6:52pm) and continued until sunrise the following morning.

Originally begun in Paris in 2002, Nuit Blanche came to fruition in an attempt to make use of public space to bring contemporary art to a larger audience. The night fills the streets of Paris with millions of people every year, and in 2005 the organizers of the Paris event sent a special invitation to the city of Toronto (along with six other European cities) to join in on the all-night art event. Nuit Blanche has continued to grow over the years, and is now featured in Brussels, Rome, Bucharest, Riga, Madrid, Portugal, La Valette, Tokyo, Montreal and Leeds. Toronto is the first North American city to fully replicate the Paris model, and Metalworks Production Group was there to help make it all happen.

Japanese artist Fujiwara Takahiro set up a dazzling light array floating in the middle of the Eaton Centre. Metalworks Production Group ensured that the lighting was refracted throughout the many cone-shaped acrylic tubes, giving the viewer a spectacular, yet ‘trippy’ sensation when standing below the structure.

York Street was home to Earth and Sky 2008, a collaboration of two Canadian artists – Shuvinai Ashoona and John Noestheden - in an attempt to bring artistic integrity and respectfulness together in one artistic composition.

Buffalos In Combat, 2008 by Hamra Abbas of Islamabad, Pakistan, was located in a public storage courtyard on Jefferson Avenue. The artist’s portrayals of the vibrant and naturalistic scenes were brought to light by the lighting talents of Metalworks Production Group.

Tom Bendtsen of Toronto organized his conversation piece of over 12,000 books that were brought together to create an oval measuring 2x4 meters wide and 3 meters high. The overall effect, with proper lighting of the books, generated a landscape image from the colors of the books spines.

Metalworks Production Group’s staff for Nuit Blanche included five production managers, 10 technicians and 60 labor staff who were involved with 90% of the event. Staff members were spread throughout the downtown Toronto core to meet the expectations of the hundreds of art seekers, party goers and Toronto socialites. The end result was another successful event, leaving in its wake happy hosts, happy clients, happy artists, and a sleepy Metalworks Production Group.

These photos and more can be found at the Nuit Blanche Website.