Nuit de Sound and Ceramica Bella

Nuit Blanche Spot # 22 : The Gardiner Museum, located at 111 Queen's Park put on an entertaining and completely interactive performance for the second year in a row. The Gardiner was the place to make some noise and take part in an all-night drum beating session held on the fourth floor. With the ready talent of entertainers from BOOM! Entertainment and with the help of public participation, together transformed th Gardiner Museum into a symphony of synchronized drum beats.

At this exhibit, whether you came solo or not didn't matter. This installation was above all a collaborative experience for everyone, young or old, to partake in. Crowding the large presentation hall, spectators watched as patrons gathered in a circle the size of the room. In sync with the beat of the composer, participants drummed together as one. The sound of drums lurked throughout each floor of the museum and spilled into the streets, which caught the attention of passer-bys, drawing them in to see where the melodious noise was coming from.

For one, it was amazing to participate in the drum beating session with total strangers. It created a sense of community, and I felt in some ways that those people were not so much strangers but my friends. Participating in this exhibit was a sensual experience, one that motivated your inner spirit to drum along with the beat and let yourself loose. Perhaps, it could be looked as a way to alleviate stress; music as therapy for the soul! Naturopathics might agree!

After enjoying my 20 minutes of drumming with the drum choir, our group returned downstairs to see the wide array of ceramics and glass displayed on the lower levels. Of my favourites included: Italian Renaissance ceramics and English Decorative Plates (seen below)



Ceramics of the Italian Renaissance Maiolica period, commonly featured religious symbols and other elements of Christianity. This was typically seen in the 15th and 16th centuries as a tin-glazed finishing style of renaissance ceramics. Plates, vases, and other household items were crafted in this beautiful fashion. It was remarkable to see the excellent condition of these European ancesserie pieces on display at the Gardiner Museum.

In addition to Ceramic art, another art installation consisted of tape! Guest artist Ben Oakley took regular black tape and transformed a wall inside the museum into a piece of art. His work featured high amounts of detail and quality. It was amusing to watch him work so meticulously on the installment. It was definitely worth capturing a still of this work in progress!