Big top

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The Big Top of Cavalia’s Odysseo production in Toronto, Canada

In case you’re not living in Toronto or have passed through in the last month, you wouldn’t know that the city’s whiteness just went to new heights: the big top of Cavalia’s Odysseo show is here! (and you can still get tickets!)

The beautiful big white tent is the largest touring big top in the world and it is currently at the Toronto Port Lands on the city’s east side waterfront where each night, skilled performers and 61 horses create a spectacle combining music and acrobatics to make your childhood equine fantasies come true.

Many horse breeds are in the show. Image via Cavalia’s Odysseo

The big white tent is a sight to behold- I see it frequently from the Gardiner Expressway and I’m always admiring how lovely it is. The structure was conceived in Canada by set designer Marc Labelle, director Erick Villeneuve and Cirque du Soleil creator Normand Latourelle.

It is more than twice as large as the big top used for Cavalia’s original production and was designed with the help of the Italian firm Cannobio. The massive arches were built by Show Canada and the tent structure was manufactured in Italy. More than 60 people were involved in its creation process over the 11 months it took to finalize.

Big Top Facts

Dimensions: 125 high, covering an area of 393 feet long by 311 feet wide, which is more than 120,000 square feet.

Inside: A stage covering close to 8,200 square feet, no obstruction on stage or in the audience. Seating capacity: 2,290 people.

Assembly and transportation: Assembly requires more than 40 motors and a mechanical crane. The four arches are 88 feet high by 203 feet wide. 20 trucks are required to transport it all.

Below is a video of the assembly- amazing!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khR-YWrs5kM?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Whited eyed

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All the excitement yesterday about the traverse of Venus across the sun has got me thinking about protective eyewear.

For me, wearing prescription sunglasses has improved my enjoyment of the outdoors a millionfold. And I love the sunshine- but being rather unable to wear contact lenses, and being sensitive to light in general, prescription sunglasses have changed my life.

Are you thinking about getting a new pair of sunglasses this summer? I am. And the white frames do make for a very striking look, don’t they?

Neff’s Spectra sunglasses in matte white finish, $25 at Neff

Michael Kors retro Griffin sunglasses, $115 at Nordstom

Miu Miu white sunglassses, about $350 at House of Fraser

Knot a bad seat

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After coming across my second knotty pouf, I decided it’s time I feature the thing. Surely we’re onto a trend here.

The knotted ottoman we have here today is a beautiful thing (isn’t it?) by Prague-based design studio Kumeko. Inspired by old techniques of weaving fabrics and baskets, the pouf comes in two sizes and are said to be outstandingly comfy. I really like the weave pattern we have here in the Kumeko but CB2 does a similar pouf (no white option, sadly- just black, blue or red) that is knitted with large ribs.

The fabric, knotty pouf is a really nice way to round out all those harsh modernist edges in otherwise very angular spaces and well, let’s face it, it offers up a backup place to sit for when there’s just no more room on that loveseat.

Knotty poufs by Kumeko

Type event in Toronto this Thursday

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Rest assured, you’re not alone with your type love.

Creative Type is holding its fourth typography exhibition in Toronto this Thursday, May 24 (tomorrow!) at 6pm at Cooper Cole Gallery.

The exhibition is a curated show of artwork selected by Creative Type’s founding members, designers Carla Poirier, Jacqueline Lane and Blair Johnsrude. This year’s theme, “History”, brings “informal cohesion to some of the most compelling typographic work to date.”

Check out the show and mingle with local artists, illustrators, graphic designers and type thinkers interested in how words and letters affect visual expression and messaging. More details and to rsvp for the event, check out the Creative Type four event page on Facebook.

Whiting away branding

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I was delighted to come across a feature of Andrew Miller’s work on Designer Daily.

Andrew has taken on the challenge of painting white one commonly-known object every day for 100 days in a project he calls Brand Spirit. The images of branded objects now in white reveal how we come to understand branding, logos and the functionality of these deeply invested items.

Take a look:

Images courtesy of Andrew Miller.

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