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Thanks Toronto!

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:25:41 +0000

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The RedBall Project in Toronto was a great success. I was thrilled by the Canadian response to the project and it suggests new possibilities for the project to venture elsewhere in Canada.

Nothing like RedBall can take place without a team of individuals helping to make it happen, and am grateful to everyone who helped out in big ways and small to keep the project moving with the right energy everyday. Even passersby occasionally chipped in to support the project!

The idea to bring RedBall to Toronto began with Robert VanderBerg, who fortunately happens to be the Associate Producer Visual Arts & Public Installations at Luminato. Robert followed that idea through approvals, battles for sites, stroller tours and all the nitty gritty right through the festival to the last RedBall installation. My respect and gratitude go out to him, I hope we get to work together again.

If you were on site chances are you talked to Christina Milan, my project assistant, who had endless enthusiasm to spread the word while heading back every night to blog on the day’s events, keep the press schedule in check, and help keep everything together. Christina is now back with me in NYC, sporting a serious tan, and getting some sleep. Thanks Tina!

Katia Mercuri joined us to help translate the project for her fellow Torontoians and turned to be a perfect match for Christina’s energy on site, they were quite the duo. She also did a great guest post for us on the blog, and will be do doubt making trouble in Toronto for some time. Our intrepid installation team of Samuel and Alden got the project up and down everyday in perfect time and occasionally kept crazy restaurant owners at bay. Alden never lost his cool and Samuel was shooting film in every spare moment. Robert’s assistant Diana also lent a hand when not consumed with other parts of the Luminato tornado, and helped keep Robert sane, which we all appreciated.

The project also got great support from the bloggers, photographers, and art fan’s of Toronto and they sent the word out on the project far and wide, having conversations on all sorts of sites.

Of course my deep thanks to Janice Price, CEO of Luminato, and Chris Lorway, Artistic Director, for bringing the project to Toronto and making room for it to roam.

- Kurt Perschke

Harbourfront Center – Day 7

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:24:14 +0000

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RedBall gave its final performance for the finale of the Luminato Festival at the Harbourfront Center today. It made itself cozy along the water, locked in place under a footbridge along the marina. Inflation was surprisingly fast, the weather was beautiful, and by noon the staff was ready to make RedBall

Queen Street W. Alley – Day 6

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:22:43 +0000

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Everyone in Toronto knows that Queen Street West has a lot of character. RedBall decided to take part in its street scene today, making its way to the fashion district in style. Belly out in a graffiti alley next to the Rock Parlour, the ball was visible for blocks to foot traffic and vehicle drive-byes. Appreciators of the work crowded around its front, took footage from across the street, and ventured into the back alley to study the beautiful juxtaposition of the ball against the colorful graffiti.

Onlookers from Greenavi Caf

Ryerson University – Day 5

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:17:11 +0000

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There is nothing that brings Toronto to life and awakens its senses like a sunny, warm day quite like RedBall. Add a giant, RedBall to the mix and you

Elm St. Alley – Day 4

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:15:40 +0000

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Wedged in between buildings 13 and 15 in Elm Street, RedBall

First Canadian Place – Day 3

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:12:46 +0000

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The installation of RedBall was completed just after the morning rush of suits with the assistance of the gracious and generous staff of First Canadian Place. The crowd that saw it in its early hours was comprised of those who had either been following RedBall since its first two sites (a large thank-you to you), were following the Luminato sites, or had never heard of either. The morning was off to a great start with Robert Vanderberg

Old City Hall – Day 2

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:07:12 +0000

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The center portal of Old City Hall was barricaded by the latest trend in Toronto today: RedBall Project. The standard Sunday lockdown of Old City Hall

Nathan Phillips Square – Day 1

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:04:38 +0000

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The RedBall team had anticipated this day for some time

Test Site: Pre-Installation

Christina — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:44:14 +0000

Today’s test inflation and deflation went well. It took place in the warehouse building for the Canadian Opera Company, an absolutely charming building with plenty of space. Patrick, the warehouse manager, was more than helpful in initiating start-up. After “meet ‘n’ greet” with Toronto’s installation staff members Samuel and Alden, inflation was underway.

The orientation to the setup of RedBall was quickly learned. Indeed, troubleshooting, maintenance, and even cleaning were addressed, but nothing was more satisfying than seeing RedBall up and ready to go! I can hardly wait until tomorrow, and I’m sure everyone else feels the same!

Kurt and Samuel