overview

Our cities and homes are always changing, tearing themselves apart, evolving. What if there were a laboratory and incubation space where this idea could be experienced, explored, enjoyed?

_iterative at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

_iterative is a collective that is driven by investigations aimed to transcend the boundaries between architecture, installation, culture, and identity. Integral to their work is the coupling of conceptual based projects and diverse physical context. This year, _iterative has been chosen to present their project entitled Shed at the 2011 edition of Toronto’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche to take place on October 1st 2011. To help make this project happen, we are looking for sponsors to participate in our installation.

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

At its core, Nuit Blanche is a 12-hour event with a mandate to make contemporary art accessible to large audiences, while inspiring dialogue and engaging the public to examine its significance and impact on public space. Nuit Blanche is both a “high art” event and a free populous event that encourages celebration and community engagement. From sunset to sunrise city spaces and neighbourhoods are transformed into temporary exhibitions. Unusual or forbidden spaces become sites of contemporary art open for all-night discovery and rediscovery. Cultural institutions, from museums to galleries to artist run centers, open their doors and offer free access to contemporary art. The everyday is suspended as the city’s landscape is changed to welcome a variety of artistic experiences. Toronto’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche has wholeheartedly embraced these principals, and has become a cultural phenomenon the likes of which the city has never seen. In 2006 425,000 people ventured out onto the city’s streets for an all-night exploration and celebration of contemporary art. The 2010 edition of Toronto’s sunset to sunrise celebration of contemporary art once again attracted a million people to the city’s streets. In 2010 the event also saw strong growth in tourism attendance, with economic impact up 48% to $34.7 million.

Shed

_iterative aims to engage the public through a dynamic installation that challenges perceptions of our built environment within the exceptional setting of Nuit Blanche. In the spirit of détournement, we propose to construct a temporary pavilion assembled from store bought utility sheds. Shed aims to provide a space of pleasure and relaxation within a structure that is deemed banal and utilitarian by creating a unique installation both inside and out. The installation is comprised of several utility sheds stacked together with the interior space linked through passages. The exterior composition startles at first glance as one witnesses an ‘upside-down’ structure. Upon further inspection, the pavilion functions as normal. The interior spaces will be finished with a variety of materials, each of which speaks to the built environment and how we make ‘personal’ space.

Fort York

The Nuit Blanche committee has expressed great excitement over this installation and has set Fort York as the site. Fort York is currently of growing interest to the city of Toronto as it has recently launched it’s the Bicentennial Campaign. In an attempt to revitalize the fort and surrounding area, numerous changes are being implemented including innovative programming using new media, events and the arts with partners from all over the city. The area will also see a stunning new $23-million Fort York Visitor Centre completed in 2012. Alongside Shed, two other projects will be presented at the Fort during the night of Nuit Blanche.

The _iterative Collective

_iterative is a young collective comprised of Andrew Chau and Jennifer Thorogood. Both Chau and Thorogood received their degrees in Architecture (M.Arch.) in 2009 from McGill University in Montreal. In tandem with employment in the architectural field, Chau and Thorogood participate in many competitions, exhibitions and events. Most notably their work has been featured in the Calgary’s Artcity Festival, Toronto’s Come up to my Room Event, and The Anti-Design Festival in London, UK.

andrew chau
jennifer thorogood

Sponsorship Opportunities

_iterative is searching for sponsors who would like to contribute to the Shed project under the following opportunities:

1. A partner who would like to donate the utility sheds or building materials. As a partner you will be included as part of the Shed installation in all of the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche promotional materials including: the website, maps, signs, press releases and the event guide.

2. Sponsors who would like to donate $500 dollars or more will receive an interior “room” dedication and their name listed on the installation plaque.

3. Friends who would like to donate any amount of money under $500 dollars will have their name listed on the installation plaque.