Winnipeg artists share their work physically and digitally at this year’s festival.
By Rebecca Berthelette
Despite Nuit Blanche moving from a single night to a month-long event, Winnipeg artists still have a chance to showcase their work with the community.
Nuit Blanche is a free festival of contemporary art and events for people to explore between Sept. 25 to Oct. 25, both in-person and online. It allows local artists the opportunity to show off their work and communicate the different cultures in their communities through a variety of mediums.
A visual artist in Winnipeg, who goes by the pseudonym Pink Panda, collaborated with 431 Urban StreetWear to create a UV spray painted mural for Nuit Blanche.
“I want to educate the public that spray paint is like any other medium,” said Pink Panda. “I want to challenge people to think differently.”
Pink Panda said she hopes to stifle the stigma around spray paint art and show her audience it’s not vandalism. She expressed how art is a form of communication and an outlet for her thoughts and feelings.
“Art is [not only] communication, it’s also self-expressive. It helps me deal with all of my emotions and my mental health” Pink Panda said.
Tim Connell, a Winnipeg filmmaker plans to host an interactive music presentation during Nuit Blanche featuring a giant hexagonal sculpture in the middle of a 15 ft. wide circle. The border of the sculpture illuminates and produces different tones of sounds depending on the viewer’s position.
Connell worked with Paolo Gasdia, a construction artist, and Jeff Bergman, a sound engineer and mixer, to create the exhibit.
“We wanted to create works of art that embrace the idea of universal equality” said Connell.
Connell said they created this event with the intention of leaving an expression of what people need to do to see each other equally.
He said he thinks Nuit Blanche is an opportunity for people to meet Winnipeg artists and appreciate the diverse art they worked so hard to make.
“People get to meet artists, artists that are rather strange individuals, they’re interesting and different. Nuit Blanche embraces and celebrates that multicultural group of people in the city” Connell said.
Tim Connell said he’s looking forward to showcasing his art, though he’s uncertain if it will be displayed this month or if it will be postponed to next year’s Nuit Blanche events.
To revisit Pink Panda’s event go to her Instagram @pinkpandawpg or her website pinkpanda.ca to explore her work.
that was a great night