Studio PSK’s Orbit
When: 26th – 29th October 2016, 6pm – 10pm
Where: York, North Yorkshire
£: Most events are free
What is it?
Illuminating York, the historic city’s annual festival of light returns from Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th October.
The festival aims to transform aspects of the city through the use of light. This year’s event features seven newly commissioned artworks using light, an expanded light trail, and a host of fringe events.
Illuminating York will feature specially commissioned artworks, with outdoor installations highlighting some of York’s most intriguing buildings and spaces. There will be indoor illuminations, using projection, colour and light to showcase very different aspects of York’s heritage; from the industrial past of National Railway Museum’s workshops, to the interior of Holy Trinity Church in Goodramgate.
Internationally-renowned artists including Jason Bruges Studio, Heinrich and Palmer, Helen Maurer and Studio PSK will contribute new artworks to this year’s event.
Illuminating York highlights:
Jason Bruges Studio, York Minster
After a triumph lighting The Shard in London on New Year’s Eve, Jason Bruges Studio will become ‘light masons’ within the cavernous nave of York’s gothic cathedral. Using only white light and particulate suspended in the air, visitors will experience spectacular choreographed spaces carved out of light. Admission costs £8 for adults and £3.50 for children (includes admission to the East End exhibition and Chapter House).
Lumen by David Ogle, York St John University
The historic quad at York St John’s Lord Mayor’s Walk campus will be occupied by a forest of light. Visitors can walk amongst skeletal coloured luminescent trees, to experience the unusual light and shade cast by their glowing branches; with further exhibitions and performances by York St John Students to discover around the campus. Free.
Heinrich and Palmer, National Railway Museum (NRM)
Pioneers of large-scale illuminated art, Heinrich and Palmer turn their attention to the Workshop at NRM, creating an experience that brings together projection, light drawings, film and sound in the working heart of the museum, where engines are maintained and restored. Visitors will also see the return of Locos in a Different Light, at the NRM, where the halls and locomotives are transformed with colour and light by theatre lighting design students. Free.
Lumen by David Ogle
Helen Maurer, Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate
Secrets in the stained glass, inspire the displays inside this historic building, as Helen Maurer creates a compelling installation using light, glass and mirrors to project shape and colour onto the walls and ceiling. Free.
Orbit by Studio PSK, Shambles
Regularly voted one of Britain’s most picturesque streets, Studio PSK has designed ‘Orbit’, which will be installed along the entire length of the world-famous Shambles. Arcs of light will revolve above the heads of the visitors, encircling views of the iconic street, prompting them to look up from the historic street. Free.
Loopy Lou by Rémi Brun, King’s Square
Loupy Lou is a skipping figure, whose movements are created by just a few LED lights. In daylight, Brun’s sculpture looks like an abstract wire construction, but after dark, the LED lights that dance around, create a depiction of a skipping girl, based on the artist’s daughter playing. Remi Brun lives and works in Paris and this is the first time his work has been shown in a UK light festival. Free.
Society of Light & Lighting Projects, various locations
The Society of Light & Lighting– the top industry body for those working in the lighting sector – will be working with schools around York to create lighting schemes for three venues, including parts of the city walls and St Michael-le-Belfry. Free.
Bunny Light Trail, various locations
Making a return this year will be the popular Bunny Light Trail, in collaboration with York contemporary design store Snow Home. Fifty bunny lights, customised by artists and creatives, will be placed in shop and business windows across the city centre. Free.
Adding to the main programme will be a packed festival fringe programme, with venues across the city taking part. Fringe events include candlelit tours of Fairfax House, and a Gregorian Latin Chant with ‘Illuminations by Visions of York’ in All Saints North Street Church.
More info: www.illuminatingyork.org.uk