BY MATT HARRISON
Disney Made Me Do It
Aside from a plethora of cutting edge animation — including Philip Eddolls’ Git Gob, an awesome 1:33 sec. short (is flash a better word?) — Disney is in the Ottawa International Animation Festival’s crosshairs this year. And why not? Love it or hate it, the studio remains the heavyweight of the animation biz (think Frozen). Founded in 1923, the Disney animation behemoth has led the way, more or less, for almost a century. In light of this legacy, along with Disney’s impact on the industry — and us — this year’s animation festival is hosting several events within its five-day program that focus on the famed company. In particular, Disney Made Me Do It is an art exhibit at Arts Court (library, 2nd floor) by nine Ottawa artists who cite Disney’s impact/influence. It opens on Thursday, Sept. 18 (from 5 to 7:30 p.m.) and runs through to the end of the festival — it’s also part of Nuit Blanche (see below). Too many events to list here, so visit their website for info on the entire festival.
Hidden Harvest
Did You Know? An estimated $27 billion worth of food ends up in landfills every year in Canada. Bet you also didn’t know (but likely suspected) that one third of all food produced in the world goes to waste? How about here in Ottawa? — Next time you’re out for a city stroll, take a moment to notice how many crab apples or fruit in general are simply unpicked and left to rot on trees or strewn about on the ground — lots, but less so since Hidden Harvest Ottawa began. The local group harvests the unused fruit and veggies around the city, and, to that end, encourages the planting of more fruit trees. Want to learn more about what they’re up? Come out to a lecture by Harvest co-founders, Katrina Siks and Jason Garlough, on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Agriculture Museum. The talk will be followed by a screening of Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story, accompanied by tasty popcorn. The event takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10; also, bring a non-perishable food item. More info, visit here. Canadian Agriculture Museum is at 901 Prince of Wales Dr.
Nuit Blanche Art Party FREE!
Construction. Most of this past year has been inundated with cones, signs, backhoes, a great deal of noise, and traffic congestion. Driving, even walking, has become a daily headache. It’s no wonder, then, that this year’s all-night art-party, Nuit Blanche, is launching their third year with the theme of “Bypass” — obviously, it’s meant to inspire ideas beyond the word’s definition, but it is, nevertheless, extremely fitting since there’s been many a day when I wish I could ‘bypass’ Ottawa — at least until this traffic nightmare ends.
If you’ve never experienced Nuit Blanche — either here or in Toronto, Montreal, or elsewhere — it’s a party that is unlike others. On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 19 and into the wee hours of Sunday, Sept. 20, meander in and out of art galleries (National Gallery, OAG, SAW, etc.) which will be open throughout the event, hang out at various art parties, bump into groups of people, and discover works of art, some curated specifically for this event and installed around the city.
One such installation that should not be missed is On-Air. Step inside an airplane cabin, and remain seated, while you experience crash scenes which are typically cut out from inflight movies (for obvious reasons) and the panicked voices of air traffic controllers dealing with emergencies — headphones help to recreate that ubiquitous airplane ‘hum’ as well as a slight air pressure to the ears. Not for everyone, the work, created by artist Geneviève Thauvette, will be at Plaza Bridge Underpass, at Elgin St. and Wellington St. from 6:20 p.m. to 4:21 a.m. More info on her specific installation, visit here. The official website of Nuit Blanche has more details, maps, times, etc. The whole thing is free.
House Gawker
Want to see how the one per cent live? Join this year’s annual Glebe House Tour on Sunday, Sept. 21 and stroll through five homes, old and new, decked out in various styles. There’s a shuttle bus you can hop off and on, and tickets are only (?!?) 30 bucks… And though that, in my estimation, seems a little hefty, proceeds do go towards the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group. And there’s tea/coffee and cookies afterwards, so… there’s that. The tour happens rain or shine. This is a “shoes-off” tour, so sport some footwear you can slip on and off. Infants/kids aren’t particularly welcome, neither are large packs, so ditch that MEC backpack before coming.
Feast of Fields
Autumn weather is perfect for a fall drive into the countryside, and this Sunday, Sept. 21 offers a great opportunity to do just that… And to also eat and drink the best of this year’s organic harvest. Feast of Fields brings together talented chefs and local organic producers to create culinary delights to sample, which are paired with wines and beer. Stroll through the nearby Gatineau forest and enjoy some live music. It happens at the historic and very picturesque Wakefield Mill Inn, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Wakefield Village in Quebec. Tickets are $80. More info, and to purchase tickets, visit here.Wakefield Mill is at 60 Mill Rd., Wakefield, QC