Leslie Armstrong
Arts Editor
From August 25-28, Toronto played host to volunteer performers from around the world specializing in fire, insects and chalk this weekend, all in the name of Epilepsy Toronto. One in a hundred Canadians will experience epilepsy at some point in their life, so the support is becoming ever crucial. With that in mind, Torontonians got the chance to guiltlessly watch as all kinds of street performers put their lives at risk (so long as they pitched in a donation).
Scotiabank’s 12th annual BuskerFest was more than just entertainment this year; this time around it was more aesthetically pleasing and thoughtfully artistic than ever. Here’s a compilation of interesting performances.
Close Acts, XL Insects
Children crying, teens pointing and laughing, and adults snapping their digital SLRs at the whole scene. The XL Insects, a roaming performance act originating in the Netherlands with the Close Acts theater company, swarmed the streets in front of the Flat Iron building, terrorizing and fascinating with their silver bug eyes and their brightly coloured red and blue bodies. They screeched and dipped their menacing pincers into the sea of people who were just trying to cross the street to use the washroom facilities. Think Cloverfield — but substitute pesky flies in place of gigantic spiders.
Pyromancer
We all have a pyromaniac friend out there, but Pyromancer is what happens when that friend gets a little out of hand. Also from the Netherlands, our subject hopped around the stage in a majestic gold cloak, muttering unintelligibly in Dutch, and projecting flames from his mouth. He kept the flame alive by spitting what seemed to be straight vodka (hopefully not lighter fluid) into his fires. The show was finishing, and just as we were about to label him a nutcase, he charmed us by blowing fire-kisses to the crowd.
Chalky
Not so flashy and overbearing like many of the other performances, our very own Canadian from Ottawa, Chalky, sat on the sidewalk, reproducing famous historic portraits using nothing but chalk (you guessed it). The result is a smooth, well-blended depiction of the real thing, and all from a man who looks like he could be one of the spectators, clad modestly in cargo shorts and a t-shirt. Chalky’s art will stand the test of time, but unfortunately, not the test of rain showers and pigeon droppings.
Kate Mior
Toronto-based installation artist Kate Mior may not do back flips and somersaults mid-air, but avid photographers did just that to get a shot of this world-famous mime. With her perfect ringlets and satin dress, she mimed a wind-up doll, complete with the continuously revolving golden knob on her back. Even with her masterful, calculated movements, she was just as captivating while stock-still. Talk about sitting pretty.
