Nuit Blanche Piece: Take Shelter (Zone C, Liberty Village)
Photo: One Off Collective. (top row from left): Meiko Maruyama, Stephanie Nicolò (bottom row from left): Maggie Flynn, Annie Si-Wing Tung, Jessica Thalmann

What inspired your contribution to Nuit Blanche this year?
We were very attracted to the curatorial theme for Zone C: Urban Disaster/Catastrophe/Survival Actions. The theme’s grave tone conflicts with Nuit Blanche’s usually more celebratory atmosphere. Our piece is a caught somewhere between the two.

What do you hope people will experience when they see it?
We hope people will be inspired to engage with the materials, find creative ways to build a shelter and think actively about this process.

Nuit Blanche aside, what’s the most amazing, surreal 3 am experience you’ve ever had?
One time we were scoping out an installation site late on a Sunday night, not quite 3 am. Suddenly there was a parade of seven or eight raccoons followed by a bunch of equally wild children throwing pop cans at them. It was weird.

Where will you be at dawn on Sunday?
After the cans are safely shelved at the food bank, we’ll definitely be having pancakes at our favourite breakfast place.

You’ve got $100,000 to spend on throwing your ideal art event-what do you do?
Can castles.