Illuminart at Lights of Lobethal

November 25, 2009

the many Gifts of Lobethal… discovering them anew.

Filed under: Deck the Hall, General — Admin @ 12:45 pm

Lobethal is one of the secret yet beautiful hidden treasures of the Adelaide Hills, and the Lights of Lobethal is a very special time of year, when the local community turn it into an illuminated paradise for visitors to enjoy and celebrate Christmas time.

It’s an incredible event because the whole event is created by community participation… with hundreds of homes being lit up by local businesses and families as a community gift to visitors from everywhere. It is quite unlike other festivals.

The illumination of family homes across the Lobethal valley is more than a spectacular sight. It brings people together from near and far, to see what an amazing event is possible when a town and community work together.

Deck the Hall

This year the Lobethal community have extended the many offerings of their beautiful town to include new forms of lighting art, that can light up other parts of the town.

Deck the Hall is a new element, lighting up the Art Deco facade of the Centennial Hall in the main street of Lobethal. This uses video projection to add coloured light, animation and imagery to this very special building.

Projection artist, Cindi Drennan, is helping the community to create this new project, and has put out a call to interested local residents to assist with ideas, artwork and imagery that shows the sparkling stide of Lobethal. This may be as simple as suggesting an idea for what you love most about Lobethal, what you think is unique about the area, or getting involved in a workshop to create a drawing or message to be displayed apon the building.

The many gifts of Lobethal already suggested, include: the beautiful lights of lobethal festival and how it brings people together; a close community; amazing trails for walking and cycling; a great place to grow up; and strong heritage.

Do you have suggestions or ideas that you think will help Lobethal to celebrate its many gifts?

Already one group, a class of reception students from Lobethal Primary School, have agreed to join in a workshop with Cindi to create digital artwork for the building projection. The students, and their teacher Suzanne Conboy, will help to create a series of images on the theme of angels in the community. This is exciting for the students and for the visiting projection artist, as it brings together new skills for the group, while allowing Cindi to work more closely within the community.

Cindi is also talking with local residents over the next week to invite new ideas for the building, and encourage local artists to get involved if they would like to contribute artwork.

The aim is to give the Centennial Hall a beautiful lightshow that visitors to Lobethal will remember for years to come.

Cindi Drennan says: “This festival is about the transformation of family homes with lighting, en masse. When we see what the people of Lobethal do by working together, it gives those of us from other places great hope for what we can achieve in cooperation and partnership, even when its not easy! I am inspired by this contribution and hard work of Lobethal and am honoured to contribute with new ideas and technologies.”

In order to make the project successful, Cindi has been consulting with SANYO oceania about Projection technologies to suit this site, Solaris regarding possible energy solutions, and with sponsor ETSA, the Adelaide Hills Council and the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure to provide best solutions to reduce ambient light levels that may impact the building.

More information, contact Cindi on 0412 534 999 or info @ illuminart.com.au

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November 24, 2009

Carbon Nuetral… which gear is that? Where do I get it? What is it made of?

Filed under: General, Lobethal Lights Workshops — Admin @ 8:16 am

The Lights of Lobethal are about to go on for Christmas and visiting artist Cindi Drennan is creating a light show to illuminate Centennial Hall. She is also thinking about global warming.

Carbon Nuetral... what is it? Where do I get it? What is it made of?

Carbon Nuetral... which gear is that? Where do I get it? What is it made of?

Her art uses light, sound, power and projectors and now she is working towards creating her spectacular visions without adding to carbon pollution.

Her knowledge of the environmentally friendly world now being discussed by governments is always increasing. She has learnt about new industries and new values plus a lot of new words that have come into our language.

Cindi is inviting anyone who is interested in learning more about sustainability and how to decrease pollution in our lives to come along to a special presentation of films, information, amusing and intriguing insights and a bit of friendly discussion.

You’ll get to hear about alternative technologies, the emerging environmental economy and some interesting trials by families and Australian businesses. There will be some useful tips to help you understand just how much is happening in this area and how you can get closer to your own environmental goals.

Carbon Neutral –come along and find out what everyone is talking about.

Date: Thursday December 10th
Time: 7 – 8:45 PM
Location: Meeting Room, Lobethal Centennial Hall

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November 15, 2009

The Solar Grove Workshops for Lobethal Residents

Filed under: General, Lobethal Lights Workshops, The Solar Grove — Admin @ 8:37 pm

What’s the Solar Grove Workshop?

Have you been wondering about new technology… but you enjoy a bit of old fashioned craft?

The Solar Grove Workshops are being held by visiting artist Cindi Drennan in late November and early December, and during these workshops the participants will enjoy learning some new skills, while making something very beautiful and fun using your favourite hands on techniques.

During the workshop you will help to create the amazing new installation, The Solar Grove, which is powered by solar panels and incorporated high quality Australian made LED lights, so it is guaranteed to be a lasting feature of the festival for years to come. This is a great way to participate in the festival, will be fun and creative and you will learn a lot of interesting tips about solar power and future lighting technology… so you’ll never be “in the dark” about it again!

The workshop is being held over several sessions, and it is a requirement to book in so that there will be enough places for everyone at each session. Group sizes are 10 – 15. Craft groups and Sewing groups are very welcome to approach to set their own dates as a group. Some sessions may also be offered for young people – please enquire if interested.

Dates:

28th November – 3 PM – 6 PM
5th December – 10 AM – 1 PM & 3 PM – 6 PM
6th December – 3 PM – 6 PM

Other dates may be set so please enquire.

Location: Events will be held in Lobethal, exact location advised on booking.
Cost: free, but donation is welcome.

All enquiries to: Cindi Drennan cindi@illuminart.com.au or 0412 534 999

Thank you to our supporters: Arts SA, Lights of Lobethal SA Inc, ME Lighting

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October 31, 2009

Let’s Deck the Hall in Lobethal

Filed under: Deck the Hall — Admin @ 5:18 pm

When you come to Lobethal, you’ll see that the town is nestled in a deep little valley, and from the hill you see mostly single floor dwellings, a landscape dominated by roofs, and lovely green trees. When the Lights of Lobethal invited me to come and create a new projection show, I knew it would be fun looking around town to find the best site, but also a bit challenging as the buildings are not five story monsters with loads of projection area. The buildings are small, human scale, leading to a new creative challenge, to make a smaller scale projection art show. But which building is the right one to choose?

Lots of candidates have arisen but there is a stand out option that really is a stunning example of art deco, and of the kind of building so very endearing and unique in a township. It is the Lobethal Centennial Hall, which is situated almost exactly half way down the main street of Lobethal, and is visible from the opposite side of the valley. Whilst the building is not large, it is a very sweet and special piece of architecture, and for me also important as it is one of the town’s hubs, offering a meeting place, picture shows and entertainment.

Here’s a picture of the Hall during daylight.

The Lobethal Centennial Hall, in the main street of Lobethal.

On the 19th of October I visited Lobethal to try out some new lights and look at the hall again… we surprised some local residents by lighting up the hall with projection for about 15 minutes. I always am delighted when people stumble across these planning moments, its like wandering into the kitchen as the cake is going into the oven… I want them to come back and taste it when it comes out at the end.

A quick snap of the hall during my recent visit to test lights...

Now I have begun work on the actual show for Lobethal, and this involves working closely with the local residents, and people I get to know in Lobethal, as well as having a little personal love affair with the building itself. Naturally everyone has asked me what it is going to look like so I have created a digital simulation of some possible imagery. As this is just a quick fix so you have *some* idea of what the building will look like please do be aware that the final show will be animated, moving graphics and sounds… so this is just to whet your appetite.

A simulation of projection onto the Lobethal Town Hall

I’m also looking for the best way to present this show using the simplest, most environmentally friendly technology. I’m hopeful that this show will be self sufficient by being powered through solar panels, and will keep you posted as to whether that is possible this year, or a fallback position of 100% accredited green power. That’s just the technology side… what is really important though is how to make this special building glow with the ideas of the local community.

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October 28, 2009

Cindi Drennan ~ Illuminart is coming to Lights of Lobethal

Filed under: General — Admin @ 9:36 pm

Thanks to support from Arts SA and the Lights of Lobethal, I will be coming to Lobethal in 2009 to create a stunning new projection show and work with the community to create new forms of lighting art.

The projection show “Deck the Hall” will be an audiovisual illumination of the beautiful Centennial Hall in the Main Street of Lobethal. The images I create for this presentation will be inspired by suggestions by the local community. I am especially interested in hearing from those who would like me to create a digital blessing or wish as a gift for others who might need cheering up at Christmas time.

A second display will be a grove of hand made LED illuminated flower-sculptures which will be powered by Solar energy. This grove will be created by community members in workshops with me during my residency, and it is hoped to become a display which can travel to other communities to promote Lobethal and to have an ongoing life over many years. If you enjoy the process of hands on creation and craft, then this might be a way to participate in the Lights of Lobethal Festival.

If you are passionate about the environment and want to see more being done that is environmentally considerate, then please get in touch. I am especially interested in hearing from people in Lobethal who are powering their display with 100% accredited Green Power, or from Solar or wind energy. I would like to work closely with you over the next few months to support your plans.

If you are interested in any of the above, please email me at:
interest @ cindidrennan.com
or call 0412 534 999.

Projection Artist, Cindi Drennan ~ Illuminart

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