Starting tonight Albuquerque Artwalk is breathing a new kind of life into the city, and the party’s gonna be lit, for sure. City Brights II is a collection of 11 temporary, light-based installations by Albuquerque artists displayed in businesses and other properties between First and Ninth Street Downtown. Many of the installations are interactive and include digital projections, lighted sculptures and even some robots. February’s Artwalk, happening Downtown from 5 to 9 p..m., will give us our first glimpse of these glowing artworks.
Dason Culver’s installation “Interefraction” at OT Circus (709 Central Ave. NW) consists of 10 colored plexiglass panels cut into the shape of hands. The hands cast colorful shadows across the building that change shape and dance across the building depending on the sun’s position throughout the day. By night LED lights mounted at the base of each hand bathe passersby in a gentle glow. The project “leverages the interplay of light and shadow” to cast kaleidoscope-like images upon OT Circus’ pre-existing architecture.
“Through the use of the hand as a symbol, this composition implies a scene of people reaching out with their hands to touch and support the others around them,” Culver says. “Additionally, through the use of the motif of the hand shape, not only does it create a unique step-like pattern that emphasizes the building’s architecture, but the form also personifies the building in a unique way that makes it feel like a community member amongst us.
“Interefraction” will be visible during February and March and illuminated from dusk till dawn.
In addition to the OT Circus installation, you can be a guest at a dance party like you’ve never seen from 6 until 9 p.m. at Cafe Entropy (517 Central Ave NW). Jordan MacHardy and Aaron Mancha’s installation “Robot Laser Show” features three animatronic robots who shoot beams out of their hands and foreheads, creating a futuristic, choreographed light show.
Take a sneak peak at one of the robot performers here.
The artists say their robots “communicate in the universal language of light and dimensional form.” Not only are the robots the subjects of the installation, they create their own 3-D animated sculptures by directing their beams onto a mirrored floor, turning the space into a cyberpunk dreamworld. You can view the installation through the front windows of Cafe Entropy during February and March or come inside the building during the following hours to catch choreographed robot performances:
Friday, Feb. 7 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, March 7 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
You can read up on these installations and all the other City Brights II projects here.
Check out the Artwalk Map for locations of City Brights II host venues and events.