Along with food, art is something that I love but don't necessarily have the proper language to write about. So bear with me here, and don't be discouraged by the absence of pretention. It's probably okay to write about art without it... maybe...
Yesterday I wandered over to the gallery at 99 Sudbury to check out The Noise Project, which describes itself as "a messy, experiential and multidisciplinary exhibition about Noise". I found the idea of using noise as a theme intriguing since most gallery exhibits tend to be library-quiet. Also intriguing was the location of the exhibit, which according to the map I found online actually stretched beyond the walls of 99 Sudbury, with site-specific installations and performances in the surrounding West Queen West Triangle area.
The Noise Project contains works by 24 Toronto-based artists and the bulk of these were on display indoors at the gallery at 99 Sudbury. The art on display involved many different takes on the central theme of urban noise in various forms of media including sculpture, installation, video and film. Highlights for me included the collaboration by TIMEANDDESIRE & Labspace Studio "Overheard", which allows you to sit and listen to private conversations recorded in public spaces (eavesdropping is one of my not-so-secret guilty pleasures). In a similar spirit, Jacqui Arntfield's "Loud Enough For Anyone To Hear" centred around listening to neighbours in intimate conversations/situations through a vent in the wall (another thing I have done quite shamelessly in real life). I also really enjoyed Stephanie Avery's "Music of the City: The Awakening Sounds of Stress", which was an audio installation of a mix CD of urban sounds designed to create a stressful experience (tracks included "Sirens", "Eaton Centre Foodcourt" and "Union Station Construction").
Outside the gallery, Andrew Shenkman played guitar for his work "Duets w/Places". As cars passed by on Sudbury St., each one altered the course of his playing in his attempt to create a duet with the surrounding noise. A lovely moment was when a car paused to watch him and take a picture with their phone, not knowing that their actions were affecting the music being played in real time. I also enjoyed Aria Evans' untitled dance project, which was inspired by the relationship between sound and memory. The dance took place in graffiti alley, just behind the current location of the Theatre Centre, south of Queen West between Lisgar and Dovercourt. Gotta love it when art forces you to travel to interesting locations. Speaking of which, I also made a valiant effort to complete Stephanie Avery's "Acoustic Treasure Hunt", which was like a sound scavenger hunt in the surrounding area of The Noise Project. Sadly, I had trouble locating a clue and then found another clue out of sequence so I'm gonna call that one a fail.
The Noise Project is only at 99 Sudbury for two days, so if you get the chance try to check it out today between 11-4pm. It's FREE and each outdoor site-specific work I mentioned will be happening again today. Additionally, those interested in taking part in the "Acoustic Treasure Hunt" will have an opportunity to do it in a group with the artist present. Undoubtedly, you'll have more successful results than I!
One more thing! If you get the chance, check out Adam Herst's "Timer, Timer, Timer: A Durational Noise Performance In Three Parts", which begins with the artist inside the gallery behind a music stand flanked by buckets full of timers. I won't give too much away about the performance itself, but it takes you outside the gallery to a nearby area where the artist constructs an installation using the timers and then back again to the gallery where more timer-related art installation occurs. Quite interesting and engaging.
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