Lumen shines bright in its second year

The City of Waterloo is pleased to announce the line-up for the second edition of Lumen. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. and will feature 30+ installations by local and international artists installed throughout uptown Waterloo. 

“Lumen embodies the true spirit of Waterloo—collaboration and innovation,” says Mayor Dave Jaworsky. “Partnerships with Christie, Centre for International Governance Innovation, Waterloo Public Library, Canadian Clay and Glass, Button Factory Arts, THEMUSEUM, University of Waterloo, and the many sponsorships that make this festival happen are what makes Lumen so great.” 

Adds Justin McFadden, executive director, City of Waterloo economic development, “Lumen offers a great platform for those working in the creative industries to share their work with the public. This placemaking festival not only brings people together, it creates tangible economic benefits to the community and creates significant artistic and cultural energy in Waterloo.” 

This unique festival blends light, art, and technology with interactive, hands-on, and participatory installations and activities. Attendees will be delighted by the sights, sounds, and creative use of spaces throughout uptown as artists put their own spin on the festival’s theme. 

“As a festival, Lumen adds to the ever growing intensity of Waterloo as a hub for cultural tourism. Create Waterloo is not only providing space for local artists to showcase their work, they are also creating waves and putting Waterloo on the map as a destination for those looking to connect with arts and culture in Waterloo Region.” – Minto Schneider, chief executive officer, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation.

A central theme of the festival is the transformation of public spaces into creative places. Highlights of this theme include:

• Megaphonic (VERSA) - Waterloo City Centre (100 Regina St. S.)

Metaphonic is an interactive audio/visual installation where participants visualize the power of their own voices. Megaphonic represents the power we can harness using our voices and is inspired by changing conventions around civic engagement, collective discourse, and the voice of the individual within a community.

• ENTZÜNDEN (RC Anthony) – Uptown Parkade (60 King St. S)

The Uptown Parkade façade will be given a facelift with an immersive projection playing on themes of historical context, deconstruction, and regrowth. With the support of Christie, the structure will see the addition of real-time computer graphics designed to stimulate the imagination of Lumen participants.

• Heavy Meta – Dupont Lot/Waterloo Public Library (35 Albert St.)

This parking lot will be transformed with the addition of a 30’ long, 19’ tall metallic dragon vehicle with interactive fire, sound, kinetic, and light components. Its skin is clad in hand-cut, hand-welded sheet metal, and its wings and mouth articulate and shoot fire.

“Magic happens when art and digital technology intersect. The audience becomes immersed in a real-time transformation of the artist’s creative content. Christie is pleased to support the City of Waterloo and its Lumen projection mapping display.” - Carmen Robert, senior manager, global public relations, Christie.

For a full list of the 30+ installations, artists, collaborations, and sponsors, please visit waterloo.ca/lumen. 

About Lumen:

Lumen will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. This free festival is hosted in a mix of indoor and outdoor locations throughout Waterloo.  Lumen is delivered by Create Waterloo, the arts and culture group for the City of Waterloo. The festival is supported by a wide range of sponsors, partners, collaborators, artists, organizations, and volunteers. For more information, visit waterloo.ca/lumen

Media contacts: 

Shelly Reed
Communications consultant
519-747-8515
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca 

Sonya Poweska
Culture program specialist
519-747-8769
sonya.poweska@waterloo.ca