1-800-INF-ERNO
October 5th-6th 7PM-7AM (Nuit Blanche) and October 7-12, 2024
Nuit BlancheToronto 2024 Independent Project
An interactive installation by Micki-Lee Smith & Zakriya Bashir-Hill, in collaboration with Diana Lawryshyn, Pratap Mathews, & Yun Young Lee. Also featuring paintings by Diana Lawryshyn.
A phone call bridges the gap between personal experiences and the grim realities that exist on the front lines of the global environmental crisis. A devastating forest fire comes to life. Melancholic melody and wistful lyricism weave into an unsettling crackle, forging together the layers of an uncomfortable and alarming soundscape. Audiences are invited to listen in on both sides of a phone conversation and hear how two extremes, ignorance and unobstructed, inescapable awareness, emerge.
toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/nuitblanche/
On one end, an individual expresses their excitement and intent to be together with a partner who, amid the crisis, cannot respond. Additional phones surround the seemingly “one-sided” conversation, shedding light on the perspectives between them. A timeless tune cascades through the room, depicting a lover’s plea for connection. This familiar trope is recontextualized, prompting audiences to consider the unseen emotional tolls that hide behind statistics and reports. Explore how distance informs our sense of urgency and apathy towards the environmental crisis. Are you susceptible to disconnection?
Special thanks to Camilie Shiu, Alex Dobson, Nuit Blanche TO, and Nurielle Stern for helping bring this piece to life.
Supported by Toronto Arts Council with funding from the City of Toronto.
Please join us for Nuit Blanche
Saturday October 5, 2024
7 PM - 7 AM
420 Queen St E Toronto
Off Site: 1-800-INFERNO: Reception Perception
A pop-up "teaser" for Nuit Blanche 2024 and 1-800-INF-ERNO, Until October 12
By Micki-Lee Smith + Pratap Mathews
In collaboration with Zakriya Bashir-Hill, Diana Lawryshyn, & Camille Shiu
Connect with your admirer!
1.Pick up the phone.
2. Listen carefully to the available options.
3. Select the option that best represents your current situation, sentiment, or inquiry.
Phones can be found at Craft Ontario and Dish Gallery in the Distillery District, 401 Richmond, U of T Music Library, and Akin Collective on Queen E.
Micki-Lee Smith + Zakriya Bashir-Hill
Micki is a violinist, composer and multimedia artist, whose work reimagines classical, jazz and folk music, wistfully whisking in drops of atmospheric emotion. As a hat connoisseur, Zakriya wears many: audio engineer, music producer, videographer, photographer and multi-instrumentalist. His work spans many genres. Having met through University of Toronto's Music Technology and Digital Media Master's program, the two first joined forces for Micki’s Nuit Blanche debut, “Submerge” (2023). The installation sparked conversations about underwater acoustic pollution with its eerie and imaginative soundscape.
@mickifiddlesaround
mickileesmith.com
@zakriyabh
www.halfmilemusic.studio
Diana Lawryshyn [Role: Lyric Visuals Artist / Painter]
With a style described as “tremulous” and “introspective”, Diana Nadia Lawryshyn is best known for painting on wood surfaces. Central to her practice is a willingness to let the wood’s grain guide her brushstrokes, facilitating an organic expression of what lies dormant in her subconscious. Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts and Education degree from Queen’s University and a Master of Music from the University of Toronto. These educational influences, combined with fine art electives, had unexpectedly given rise to her unique painting style. Her work has received notable recognition, including the City of Oshawa’s Emerging Artist award, "People’s Choice" at the Station Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition, and “Best in Show” at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Cultural Expressions Juried Art Exhibition.
Pratap Mathews [Role: Fabricator]
With a background in computer science, Pratap’s creative practice is driven by creative curiosity and a keen interest in tackling technical challenges. Following the completion of his master's degree in Music Technology at the University of Toronto, he has been passionately producing and releasing his own pop music under the name Tyas.
Yun Young Lee [Role: Creative Audio Editor and Producer]
Yun is a versatile musician based in Toronto, Canada. With a background in jazz, she has focused her skills as a keyboard player, and collaborates with renowned Kpop artists.Yun’s musical journey took her to the University of Toronto, where she delved into the intricacies of music technology, and earned her master’s degree. Armed with this advanced knowledge, she has since become a composer and producer, crafting compositions that span an array of genres.
