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Nuit Blanche 2024: The Metipso Portal International

Left side photo of tabletop building at OCAD University; right side photo of mud hut with high antenna.

THE METIPSO PORTAL INTERNATIONAL

Saturday, October 5 to Sunday, October 6, 2024 

7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

OCAD University, 100 McCaul St., Main Auditorium, MC 190

This 12-hour LIVE and interactive Nuit Blanche 2024 – BRIDGING DISTANCE event is a co-presentation with OCAD U’s Onsite Gallery and The Metipso Portal International. This exciting, multi-faceted exhibit will link Toronto to The Metipso Portal International Mud Hut Media Lab for the Live Broadcast Experiment: #NB-OCAD-10-05-24. The Metipso Portal International is the world's only experimental media lab that operates in a traditional mud hut in a village located on the edge of a protected forest in the highlands of Central Kenya. 

Artwork presented throughout the night will be The Metipso Portal’s most ambitious presentation to date! The all-night program will include a compilation of archival footage showcasing past connections between the Metipso Portal and people worldwide played on the central screen. 

To the side of the screen, the event participants will discover a Live Zoom call where they can meet and interact with a member from Metipso village. This intimate call will run for the full 12 hours. Scheduled to commence at 11:30 pm is super exciting prime time presentation of METIPSO LIVE, LIVE! 

Hosted by an array of the ActionCan Films who’s who, including Benjamin Blais, John Fleming and newcomer Arleigh Curran from Toronto along with Metipso TV team in Kenya, including Teddy Purity, KAIDA, Javan Batenga and renowned international presenter Topi Lyambila. 

Visitors can look forward to experiencing live interactions between the bi-continental hosts, audience members, fun games as well as talented performances from both sides including Cellist Margaret Maria, Traditional Village Singers and Cocanina.

This unique exhibit has been orchestrated by lead Canadian artists Joel Richardson and Susan de Freitas and Kenyan Olympic Gold medallist Matthew Birir.

The Metipso Portal International is curated by Lisa Deanne Smith, Senior Curator, Onsite Gallery, and made possible through Onsite Gallery’s generous support from The Delaney Family, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council.

Short video on the beginning of the Metipso Portal (a fun watch): METIPSO PORTAL PROMO (youtube.com)

Website: Metipso Portal

Social: 

Metipso Portal (@metipso_portal) • Instagram photos and videos

Metipso Facebook