Once a year Toronto celebrates Nuit Blanche. Installation artists aim to captivate the masses and transform Toronto into a great big art party. Matt Barker put together the best-in-gay from this one-night-only festival so we can take advantage, stay up all night and enjoy the free, contemporary art mess.
 
The Do’s and Don’ts
 
DO dress warmly and consider the weather. It’s a long night and it gets damn cold!
DO your research, map out what you want to see and discover something new!
DO be careful of the cops who will be on the looking for public drinkers!
DO be all over Instagram and take as many photos as possible.
DO pretend to be in Rihanna’s, “We Found Love” Music Video!
DO bring a traveler mug to walk around with. Hot Chocolate; spiked or straight – your choice.
 
DON’T get wasted and make a mess one thyself.
DON’T judge anyone.
DON’T vandalize any of the art.
DON’T queen out and disrespect peoples space and environment.
DON’T forget to have FUN!
 
Plan Your Trip Step By Step With The Nuit Blanche Planner Here:
http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/connect/plan-my-night/log-in.html  
 
More info on Nuit Blanche  at scotiabanknuitblanche.ca
 
 
The Must-see’s

 
The Acid House - Geoffrey Pugen
 
Around City Hall [Secret Location]
 
Like a dance party from 1994!
 
“’416-788-9663’ is a choreographed performance and installation piece, which explores the phenomenology of underground dance culture, escapism and consumption. The work transforms a secret location by re-enacting a subversive Toronto dance party scene from 1994. The project asks the spectator to consider their position by trying to locate it, and then viewing it by walking around the theatrical event. The scene captures a deeply bizarre and uncanny era when hundreds of suburban kids crammed together to share ecstatic adventures.”
 

The Fun House - Thom Sokoloski
 
Bay & Adelaide St West
 
Like a freaky fun house ride!
 
“Fun House is an interactive performance art installation inspired by the classic carnival fun house. The public is invited to take a car ride and journey through compelling carnivalesque environments. The audience becomes immersed in experiences of light, sound and imagery, which engulf, scare and surprise.”


Body Xerox - Simon Denny & Yngve Holen (Berlin, Germany)
King Street East & Toronto Street
 
Like an office party on acid!
 
“Photocopiers function as disco lights to animate this participatory event. 
International DJs Craxxxmurf and Baglady maintain the volume and the energy on the darkened dance floor while photocopy paper accumulates round the machines. Flashes of sweeping green light and puddles of blue create a night club-meets-office atmosphere.”
 
The Day After Tomorrow - Dave Dyment
King James Place, 145 King Street East
Like the apocalypse has happened!
“Earthquakes, fires, floods, meteors, air attacks and other doomsday scenarios play on a large bank of video monitors. The exhaustive cataloguing attempts to amass a comprehensive collection of disaster cinema tropes. 
Clips are arranged geographically, so that the viewer may watch the rapture hit around the world simultaneously. Tidal waves hit shores, landmark buildings are destroyed, and general panic ensues.”

Gay Nuit Blanche Saturday, September 29^th 20127:03 Until Sunrise all over the city
— Matt Barker