Sunday, October 05, 2008

Une Nuit Blanche avec moi-même

At 2 A.M. this morning, I found myself neither able to sleep, nor able to focus on what I was trying to study..... I've been having trouble focusing all week.... well, next thing I knew, I found myself making a cup of coffee and hoping into my car, and then driving to Toronto.... it's been a long time since I've done anything remotely spontaneous..... and with gas prices these days, the spontaneous decision to hop in the car and go for a drive is no longer one made lightly.... I figured with crude oil prices dropping and gas at only $1.09/litre, I'd splurge a little.... what the heck? only $1.09/litre? that's still ridiculous.... I thought I'd check out this year's Nuit Blanche, and I figured the drive may do me some good....

after parking the car, I found myself walking down an uncharacteristically empty University Avenue....where the hell am I? what the hell am I doing? and where the hell am I going?..... these are questions I find myself pondering these days, even when I'm not wandering the deserted city streets at 3 A.M.....

check out what they did to city hall....the installation is titled "Stereoscope" by some German dudes, it's an interactive light installation... you can influence what's displayed on the city hall windows through smart phones, the web and physical controllers that are located in Nathan Phillips Square.....
This one is titled "Waterfall" by Katharine Harvey, made from recyclable plastic bottles.... it's hanging on the Ontario Power Generation Building.... I thought that was poetic since it reminds me of Niagara Falls, which generates a lot of Ontario's power....
this one is titled "A Dream of Pastures" by Mitchell F. Chan and Brad Hindson....

it's an interactive light and shadow animation projected against the wall of the Art Gallery of Ontario, see the guy riding the bike? it's his shadow riding the horse....
okay, there were a lot more installations strewn across the city.... 155 to be exact, needless to say I didn't see them all.... I figured it was time for me to return to my reality.... plus I had enough of the fumes emanating from the alcohol drenched post-last-call crowds, and had inhaled enough second hand marijuana smoke for the night.... also, the sun would be on it's way back soon.... a new day.... hopefully a fresh and more focused start for the week.... wish me luck....

Acquainted With The Night
by Robert Frost

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-by;
And further still at an unearthly height
One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.


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7 comments:

Puss-in-Boots said...

Hi Angelo. Gas at $1.09/litre...wish ours was as cheap. $1.45 at the moment and in New Zealand $1.95. Hopefully it drops before I get there.

I like the artwork around the city...especially the recyclable trash...very effective.

Well, I hope you get some sleep tonight and good luck with your studies.

Give that rascal, Nermal, a hug and scritch from me.

Anonymous said...

Puss-in-Boots: Hi Robyn. It was $1.45 here back in the summer, I'm sure it'll go down there too, it's probably just the exchange rate... but 2 bucks in New Zealand? That's crazy.

Nermal says purrrr.

Gina said...

Wow, what a different art medium!
That must have been one interesting 'pasyal' around Toronto in the very wee hours of the morning.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom . I hope she is much much better now. Give her our kindest regards, as well as your dad, and of course,pats and purrs to Nermal from us (Bella too).

Good luck in all your endeavors and interviews.

Take care!

Anonymous said...

Gina: Thanks Gina, she's doing better now, I'll let them know you said hi.

You and Tony should check out next year's nuit blanche... but not at such ugodly hours... I think it's always the first Saturday of October from 7pm till sunrise. Lots of interesting stuff to see and lots of people.... it's like the whole city becomes a royal ontario museum.

Thanks and you and Tony take care too, I'll see you around.

Shosh said...

Angelo, that's very spontaneous for sure.

Aren't you nervous to be up and about at 3AM? It's my favorite time actually. One time DH and I were on vacation and I dragged him out of bed and went driving back-country roads at 3 AM.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it's fun to get out from the ordinary of life's rhythm. And driving around the city is one of them without thinking where to go. So that's what I call unwind :D !

Anonymous said...

Midas: Hey Shoshana, it was weird walking around the deserted areas, but there were still a lot of people around the installations, it was a party-like atmosphere. I forgot how great it is to just go for a drive.

Haze: Salut Haze! Oui c'est vrai.... I definitely felt unwound and able to sleep after that adventure.