Lumen Lite celebrates light, art and technology in 2020

Celebrate light, art and technology two metres apart with Lumen Lite. Earlier this month, the City of Waterloo announced that its third annual festival of light, art & tech is set to go ahead on September 26, 2020. Lumen Lite is an adapted version of the original event with physical distancing protocols in place. The event will take place from 6 – 11 p.m. throughout uptown Waterloo. 

Traditionally hosting 30+ visual, interactive, new media, and performance-based installations, the event is adapted in 2020 to accommodate for the safety procedures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking a little different this year, the event will still host 10+ art installations taking place all outdoors, with physical-distancing measures in place, and masks required for participation. Installations will still be interactive, but in new, contact-less ways. An exciting new addition is the drone light show at 9 p.m. above Waterloo Park. Attendees will watch as 100 drones swarm, choreographed to form images with colourful, LED lights. Spread out and enjoy the light show, which can be seen within 750 metres of Silver Lake! 

“We’re very excited to be able to host Lumen Lite this year to support our artists, and to bring the community together in a safe way,” says Mayor Dave Jaworsky. “There are some really great installations to look forward to. The incredibly talented artists have created interactive artworks that people of all ages can safely enjoy. You won’t want to miss the drone light show either – it’s one of the first in Canada and is a must see!” 

Below is a snapshot of some notable installations by artists.

• Watch as TorQ Percussion Quartet performs Light Years / Dark Matter, a live performance percussion piece matched with compelling video elements
• Become the subject of a video exploration into movement and sound. Interact with responsive visuals and listen for the way your movements change their sounds with VERSA and Dan Freder’s Glitchcraft
• Step between projection screens and become a silhouette mixed with projected media from across a distance with Across the Void by DarkRooms (Jonah Kamphorst & Jackie Levitt)
• Follow a 3D supernatural being into otherworldly portals with MEDIAH’s live video art performance DA’IQ FLIGHT 

Other family-friendly activities include a silent dance party and, of course, the drone light show at 9 p.m. 

Get thinking about our community’s public spaces, and how they transform our shared experiences. Enjoy this celebration of light, art and technology, and come explore the city in a new light! 

Learn more about Lumen Lite and explore the event map at lumenfestival.ca 

About Lumen

Lumen is an annual, free, all-ages festival that is open to the public and run by the City of Waterloo’s arts and culture team (Create Waterloo). The event features the work of artists as they explore the interplay of light, art, and technology in installations located throughout uptown Waterloo.

Media contact:

Shelly Reed
Communications consultant
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca

Event contact:

Sonya Poweska
Culture program specialist – arts and culture, economic development
519-747-8769
sonya.poweska@waterloo.ca