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Black is the Colour…
I finally had a chance to test the acoustics beneath the massive ‘floating box’ of Toronto’s Ontario College of Art & Design despite it being after hours…
With the area deserted, and just an occasional passerby in the distance, I felt a little exposed as I set up to record; however the soothing strains of Black is the Colour (of my True Love’s Hair) helped put me at ease. I wanted to pick something that might not disturb the residents at the nearby Village by the Grange! I discovered afterwards that I had set my recording levels on the low side, although the resulting muted quality of my flute blending with the gentle hum of the Toronto night has a pleasing effect.
I remember the day that I got caught in traffic headed northbound on McCaul Street as a ridiculously over-sized flatbed truck with its load of what looked like giant toothpicks maneuvered in the narrow street just down from the AGO. Those ‘toothpicks’ of course ended up being the whimsical support columns for OCAD’s wonderfully audacious, architectural makeover!
It was some time later that I first caught a glimpse of the ‘new’ OCAD at night, and what a splendid sight! And the sheltered area under the massive, checkered box is an inviting parkette if you haven’t taken time to wander into that delightful little green-space. As mentioned, I have long wondered what the acoustic might be like, so I finally had my chance at the stroke of midnight as I cycled back from a spontaneous visit to the Horseshoe Tavern last week. Just as I had imagined, the acoustics were quite lively – almost like an ‘indoor’ reverb – yet expansive somehow, and elusive, with the city’s ambient street sounds gently spilling in.
One of those shadowy passersby turned out to be quite generous! Seeing me fiddling with the time-release of my NIKON D-60, Mike Soares and his friend wandered over and obliged me with this portrait snap of me mock-playing in the shadow of OCAD’s underbelly…what is it they say about Torontonians being friendly?
…case in point! Thanks Mike!
