Ontario Artists on a World Tour

As amazing as it may seem, many places in Ontario have been named after large international cities like Paris, London, Moscow, Delhi and Cairo. It is this simple fact that has inspired three visual artists, Laurent Vaillancourt, Babek Aliassa and Paul Walty, to set out on their “world tour”.

From September 11 to September 24, 2002, the artists Vaillancourt and Aliassa covered 3,000 kilometers and visited 19 locations.

In each location, a globe of interlaced steel cable was be created, woven on the spot by sculptor, Laurent Vaillancourt.

At the same time, an electronic postcard sharing their unique artistic experience was sent daily to Franco-Ontarian organizations and public institutions. The postcards are available to all interested members of the public.

The project was funded by:
The Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Canada Council for the Arts
The Franco-Ontarian Foundation

World Tour in Ontario stressed the urgent need to break down geographic barriers through all possible means, including artistic, in order to lift small communities out of their isolation. This unique link between art and isolated rural communities is at the heart of Spheres, the documentary here presented.

Spheres symbolizes the artist’s struggle in his perpetual quest for new audiences, in an effort to leave his mark. The documentary seeks to show the impact of art on rural life. Laurent’s interaction with local communities are filmed live, without artifice. Similarities and contrasts between regions of Ontario are highlighted through the strength of the editing process to show human relationships and emotions in their true light.

The film was produced with the collaboration of:
Telefilm Canada
La Société Radio-Canada
Ontario & Canadian tax credits
TFO
Bravo-sud