Nuit Blanche offers imagination, community, and inspiration

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/01/2024 (606 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wheat City Nuit Blanche: Sunset Edition was held at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (AGSM) on Jan. 13. Beginning at sunset, 5:04 p.m., artists of all kinds came together to showcase their unique and unconventional talents.

A bit of Nuit Blanche history, for those who are unfamiliar: The first Nuit Blanche was held in 1989 in Paris, France, as a way to bring contemporary art to the public. This art festival is always held at night and focuses on unusual and original art forms. The event has since gained massive popularity and spread all over the world, including to 120 Canadian cities. The AGSM hosted its first Wheat City Nuit Blanche in 2015, continuing annually up to 2019. After being forced away for three years, the beloved art festival has made its return.

Being able to hold an event like this in Brandon in the first place really speaks to the importance of classes in the arts in high schools. Programs like visual art and choir help budding creatives discover their passions and inspire them to pursue their visions. In fact, with a 2023 Neelin graduate sharing her creative process live during the event, and several other Neelin alumni performing with BU, it clearly demonstrates how access to art classes in high school can set young people on a lifelong path of the arts. The impact of these opportunities should especially be kept in mind as we approach the BSD budget meeting for the 2024-25 school year.

A few of the performances and installations I saw while attending included Sonic Terrarium by wire + bone, Singing Serpent performed by the Brandon University Chorale, and Muse for the Wheat City, a live digital drawing by Neelin’s own alumna Elanor Scott. Nuit Blanche certainly isn’t meant for those with preconceptions of what constitutes art; rather, the night is all about experimentation and celebrating the wild things one can do with art. Plants and rocks were used to play music. Chorale members weaved through the halls singing mysterious tunes. Abstract paintings decorated the walls. But the special thing about Nuit Blanche is the overarching theme of community and acceptance. There were many opportunities for public collaboration. There was a wall where anyone could walk up and contribute whatever their heart desired. All these activities helped to foster a friendly, comfortable atmosphere where anyone is free to express themself. The sky’s the limit, and the strangest ideas, that may struggle to present themselves elsewhere, are welcomed and celebrated.

I found the general sense of belonging to be quite refreshing, especially in the modern age of social media that is constantly pushing micro trends and curated aesthetics. I think it’s easy to feel lost and out of place when you don’t fit into the expectations of wealth, lifestyle, and beauty popularized by influencers. Nuit Blanche is like a breath of fresh air, a place where anyone can be themselves and show the world what makes them happy, without fear of judgement. The pure creative energy and talents of the artists displaying their skills, without limitations, left me feeling inspired to paint for the first time in months. I am so grateful that we have a local art gallery right here in Brandon, where we are able to hold these events, which bring us together to celebrate everything that makes us unique as human beings. Hopefully, the Brandon’s art community will remain alive and well, and we can enjoy Nuit Blanche for years to come.

» Sophie Henderson is a Grade 10 student at École secondaire Neelin High School