Nuit Blanche 2009 zone B featured projects that addressed issues of loss, economic instability and altered perceptions.

I found Dan Mihaltianu's Vodka Pool to be a tremendous letdown. The pool of 80-proof vodka seemed half empty by the time I arrived at Commerce Court West, and pennies were scattered throughout the reflective liquid.

Heather Nicol's multimedia installation transformed the Great Hall in Union Station into a foggy, ethereal resting place for weary legs.

Chih-Chien Wang's 10 Scents installation was a series of ten port-a-potties filled with unpredictable sensory clues inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

By far the creepiest of all projects that I saw, the Witches' Cradles were suspended from the ceiling of Brookfield Place. Volunteers climbed into these gently swaying pods while their heart rate was monitored to ensure their safety. These cradles were originally used to torture and punish potential witches through sensory deprivation, but were later reclaimed and utilized to induce prophetic visions.

It's not every day that you get to see a miniature carnival in the heart of Toronto's Financial District. The two rides jolted me up and down, symbolizing economic instability from rise to collapse, reminding me that it all comes full circle. Amusement park food was abundant, and I couldn't resist corn-on-the-cob. For those with a sweet tooth, the infamous Tiny Tom's Donutmobile was on site to meet their sugary needs.

Located at the north side of Scotiabank Plaza, Sounding Space was by far my favourite installation in Zone B. Kinaesthetic orchestration turned dance steps and hand waves into electronic sounds. Musical phrases triggered by feet and bodies filled the plaza with discordant sounds and simultaneously turned dozens of people into DJs.

Lead photo by asianz on Flickr. Writing and other photos by Matthew McAndrew.

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