Night lights
The downtown Tampa skyline will be bathed in creativity as artists set it aglow.
By LENNIE BENNETT and JANET ZINK
Published January 5, 2006
TAMPA - The city is shedding new light on the possibilities of public art with "Lights on Tampa," the most ambitious public art project yet seen in the area. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday when Mayor Pam Iorio will flip a switch and buildings throughout downtown will be illuminated with monumental sculptures by artists using light as a medium.
It's an art form that has gained great currency over the last 30 years, and one of its leading contemporary masters, the Paris-based Spanish artist Jorge Orta, is one of the six artists selected to paint the town in luminosity. His Luminographic Concert, which includes a musical component, will bathe the University of Tampa's historic Plant Hall in clear saturations of color. Below is a listing of all venues, but Orta's is just a one-night stand. Other installations will remain for weeks, months or permanently.
The kickoff party is at the Tampa Municipal Office Building and it and all sites will be accessible from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The event is free and refreshments will be available for purchase. Several locations are within walking distance but HARTline trolleys will stop at most sites. The charge is 50 cents per person. For more information, go to www.lightsontampa.org
- LENNIE BENNETT and JANET ZINK, Times staff writers
LOCATIONS
Tampa Municipal Office BuildingBest Viewing Spot: Lykes Gaslight Park, Franklin Street at Kennedy Boulevard
Artist: Stephen Knapp
About the art: Luminous Affirmations reflects light through glass mounted on the side of City Hall. This is a permanent installation.
National Wall Art GalleryBest Viewing Spot: southwest corner of Ashley Drive at Kennedy Boulevard
Artist: Wendy Babcox
About the art: Taking Breath, on display for three weeks, projects video images of regional tourism alongside Florida's natural assets.
The Pavilion at Rivergate TowerBest Viewing Spot: plaza in front of the Tampa Museum of Art
Artist: Erwin Redl
About the art: Thousands of computerized LED lights shift slowly between red and blue in Fade III. The display will be up for six months.
The News CenterBest Viewing Spot: MacDill Park on Ashley Street at Whiting Street
Artists: Bay Stage Lighting
About the art: LuminoCity, on display for five weeks, is choreographed to music.
University of TampaBest Viewing Spot: Plant Park at the University of Tampa
Artist: Jorge Orta
About the art: This one-night-only installation, titled Luminographic Concert, features six giant light projectors saturating UT's Plant Hall and musical accompaniment. The first 30-minute show begins at 7 p.m. with additional performances every 15 minutes until midnight.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts CenterBest Viewing Spot: Ashley Drive at Tyler Street
Artist: Tobey Archer
About the art: Marquee is a pulsing, multicolored fiber optic light along the roof line of the performing arts center. This is a permanent installation.