Inaugural Illuminate Art and Light Festival
College Hill Partnership, Hi-Lo Arts Lab, Interactive Digital Studies at the University of Northern Iowa, & the Hearst Center for the Arts
May 14 & 15 9:00-11:00pm Cedar Falls, IA – College Hill Area hiloartslab@gmail.com
April 19, 2021 – The first ever Cedar Valley Illuminate Art and Light Festival will be held May 14 and 15 between 9:00-11:00pm. This fun, creative event will be happening right in your backyard in Cedar Falls around College Hill, the University, and the Hearst Center.
In 1643 Lyon, France was stuck by the plague. The town promised that if they were spared, they would pay tribute, and ever since, on December 8th, a procession makes its way to the Basilica of Fouriére to light candles and give offerings. As we ourselves are in the midst of a deadly pandemic, we are in need of a guiding light out, something to look forward to, and to be reminded of the beauty and magic that make life so wonderful.
The Illuminate Art and Light Festival will give the public an opportunity to explore larger-than-life projections and view temporary installations. The Cedar Valley will be lit-up with inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking creative projects. This festival is organized as a collaboration between the Interactive Digital Studies Practicum at the University of Northern Iowa and Hi-Lo Arts Lab and is sponsored by the College Hill Partnership.
“Projection events are common across the country but haven’t yet made their way to the Cedar Valley until now,” said Dana Potter, the founder of Hi-Lo Arts Lab and professor at the University of Northern Iowa. “We may be a little late to the game, but we are kicking it up a notch with advanced technologies. Responsive audio/visual installations, dynamic video poetry, and interactive live-video feeds. Most excitingly, everything is made by people who live and work in the area. We are showcasing work for us, by us as we need community now more than ever.”
This event will be free to the public. We will be following social distancing guidelines and sanitation stations will be onsite.
About Guest Blogger: Grace J. McGovern , is a student at the University of Northern Iowa with an IDS of Advertising and Visualization. She is also in Pi Sigma Epsilon and serves as their VP of PR.
