Nuit Blanche: A celebration of space, time, community

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This article was published 13/01/2025 (248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba was alight with creativity and curiosity on Saturday night as the 2025 Wheat City Nuit Blanche, an annual all-night arts festival, transformed the space into a hub of artistic exploration.

Themed, “Curious Dialogues: Conversations with Space, Time and Beings,” the event brought together artists, musicians, and audiences to experience a night of unexpected encounters and creative engagement.

The event, now in its sixth year in Brandon, has become a staple in the cultural calendar, offering residents and visitors alike the chance to immerse themselves in the arts, co-producer Lucie Lederhendler told the Sun.

Lederhendler shared her excitement about the evolving nature of the festival, noting its post-pandemic resurgence and increasingly experimental edge.

“Last year was about rebuilding after COVID,” Lederhendler said. “This year, we’ve moved beyond that urgency and embraced more experimental works, encouraging deeper interaction with the space and the community.”

One of the standout performances of the evening was by the Brandon University New Music Ensemble, under the direction of Megumi Masaki.

The group opened their set with “DataScape,” a composition by Gordon Fitzell, which combines live electronics with acoustic instruments like piano, saxophone and violin to create a sonic tapestry inspired by everyday environmental data.

“DataScape sonifies the sounds and noise events we encounter daily,” Masaki said. “It invites us to reflect on our environment through music and visuals, turning the ordinary into something extraordinary.”

Masaki explained that the performances of her students were deeply rooted in personal and everyday experiences. She said one of the students explored the story of a woman who disliked her own beautiful hair, creating a piece that encapsulated the frustration and fascination surrounding such an emotional topic.

“All of the works were an opportunity to explore everyday life,” she said, noting that these included familiar environments like one’s home, commute or areas of personal amazement.

“We talked about what you see, what that sounds like, how it makes you feel and how we understand these experiences through sound and rituals,” she added.

To express these ideas, the students created “graphic scores” instead of traditional notation. “Some drew their own original sketches, some took videos of their environment and others created paintings on the back of a music score,” Masaki said.

For Masaki, Nuit Blanche is more than an arts festival.

“It’s a celebration of community,” she said. “You see people from all walks of life coming together to explore art in its many forms. It’s joyful, inspiring, and even a little scary at times — but that’s what makes it so special.”

Fitzell, who teaches composition at the University of Manitoba, expressed pride in the students’ ability to push the boundaries of traditional music.

“Many of these students are experiencing experimental music for the first time,” he said. “Seeing them broaden their horizons and embrace new modes of sound production is incredibly rewarding.”

The theme of “Curious Dialogues” resonated throughout the gallery, with performances and installations designed to provoke thought and foster interaction.

Lederhendler emphasized the importance of creating art that engages with its environment.

“This isn’t just about showcasing pre-existing works,” she said. “It’s about entering a conversation — with the space, the time of year, and the people who experience it.”

While attendance figures were still being tallied as at 7 p.m., Lederhendler was optimistic about the turnout. “We expect this to be one of our most popular events,” she said, noting that Nuit Blanche often attracts first-time visitors to the gallery.

Putting together an event of this scale comes with its challenges, particularly around funding. The co-producer highlighted the importance of securing resources to pay participating artists, ensuring they feel valued for their contributions.

“It’s not about making a living from the honoraria,” Lederhendler said. “It’s about recognizing that what they’re doing has worth.”

Despite these hurdles, the festival’s success underscores its significance to Brandon’s cultural landscape.

“Nuit Blanche shows that art is not just for a select few,” Masaki said. “It’s for everyone, and events like this remind us of the power of creativity to bring people together.”

As the festival carried on into the night, attendees roamed the gallery, encountering everything from experimental music to interactive installations.

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