Toronto Light Festival
Modelled after the Amsterdam Light Festival in the Netherlands and brought to life by the same people who organise the Christmas Market, Toronto decided to take a shot at this deep winter festival to draw people from indoors and immerse themselves in light. It's a family-friendly excursion through an exhibit that seems to have been born for Instagram--and why not? Although it lacked the sheer scale of its Dutch big sister, it shared many of the same installations and all of the same spirit and no doubt that its success will allow for an even bigger event next year.
"Reactor" by Ryan Longo, Canada. Ryan is an artist of lights and I've seen his work in various other places around the city. In fact, in the gallery in the Distillery has some of his manta rays. This light tree was my favourite piece of the festival. By shaping metals into an organic form, it is meant to represent the relationship between techonolgy and nature.
"Our House" by Tom Dekyvere, Belgium. Aside from the angel wings, this may have been the most photographed installation, and it was my second favourite.
On my way home, I took the long way and walked across Front Street to stop at the iconic & historic Gooderham Building, as known as Toronto's flation building. Pretty fitting seeing as how the Distillery District was the old Gooderham & Worts Limited brewers and this building served as the main offices for the company until the '50s.
"Bands of Friendship" by Vikas Patil and Santosh Gujar, India.
"A Dream of Pastures" by Studio F Minus, Canada. On my thirst visit here with my mum and sister, I took the opportunity to show them how this exhibit worked as there was no one else around to demonstrate. It was pretty fun.
"Angels of Freedom" by OGE Group, Israel. These were clearly the most popular installations of the festival, pretty much made for Instagram. And in return, for every person who posted a selfie here and tagged it #millstlights, the Mill Street Brewery donated a dollar to the Daily Bread Food Bank.
"Run Beyond" by Angelo Bonello, Italy. These actually lit up in succession as if a person is running and jumping. I was not the only person who attempted a long exposure somehow thinking it would look cooler, but it ended up looking the same as all figures being lit up at once.
"Digital Origami Tigers" by Laboratory for Visionary Architecture, Australia.
"The Uniting Lightstar" by Venividimultiplex, Netherlands. This was a challenge to photograph when you're alone with it. The idea is that if everyone presses one of the buttons at the same time, the entire structure lights up.
"Kelly Mark Exhibition" by Kelly Mark, Canada. This was one of many neon markings throughout the distillery.
Ghosts and angels. Here's to an even better and bigger light festival next year!