Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2012 offered a 360-degree contemporary art experience

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Audiences were exposed to a full sensory experience of contemporary art as the 2012 edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche filled Toronto's streets with crowds on a nocturnal search for art last night and into the early hours Sunday.

The public posed for souvenir postcards for the end of the world at "Postcards from the End" (Sarah Beck), witnessed tableaux come to life at the "Museum of the Rapture" (Douglas Coupland), and then saw the cinematic destruction of the world at "The Day After, Tomorrow" (Dave Dyment).

Crowds watched dancers defy gravity on a vertical stage in "Planes" (Trisha Brown Dance Company), listened to visionary songs at "I Dream a World" (Nathaniel Dett Chorale), and created an ever-changing light-score at "SKYLUM" (Andrew Kearney).

People krumped and cha cha'd their way through the night at "All Together Now" (Jeanne Holmes), helped luminous, human-like visitors navigate the city streets in Outsiders2012 (seeingred), and were mesmerized by the optical illusion of "Flat Space" (Peter Bowyer). They entered a giant video game from the late '70s in "Green Invaders" (Yves Caizergues), and walked away from "All Night Convenience" (Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky) with glowing parcels in hand.

In total, more than 150 projects - from smaller, more intimate experiences to large-scale spectacle -- offered audiences unique experiences with art and their city. The event continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art in public space.

Official attendance and economic impact figures will be released in early November. Plans are already underway for the eighth edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, which will return to Toronto on October 5, 2013.

To access high resolution images of event highlights, the media can visit http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/nuitblanche/nuitblanche_media.htm.

About Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is Toronto's annual all-night celebration of contemporary art, produced by the City of Toronto in collaboration with Toronto's arts community. Since 2006, the event has featured more than 700 official art installations, created by nearly 3,000 artists and has generated more than $100 million in economic impact for Toronto. Full details are now available at http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca.  Look for updates on Facebook at facebook.com/sbnuitblancheTO and Twitter at @sbnuitblancheTO, #snbTO.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit www.scotiabank.com.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SOURCE: City of Toronto

Media contact: Sylvia Kavanagh, Economic Development & Culture, 416-392-8123, [email protected]