and the winner is... Lumenocity!

Lumenocity, by Sean Bryen, Sascha Crocker and Andrew Daly last night won the 702 ABC Sydney People's Choice Award, havng been voted the most popular installation among the 25 light art pieces on show for this year’s Light Walk.

Lumenocity, located outside Customs House, creates an amazing glowing landscape that people can wander through and contemplate the energy consumed by the city on a daily basis.

You should definately get down there and check it out!!

VOTE for your favourite artwork!

ABC 702 Sydney are running a People's Choice award for the Smart Light Sydney Light Walk. Get your vote in for your favourite installation now! Voting closes 10 June. You can vote online here, just click on the vote button: http://www.smartlightsydney.mobi/

Happy voting.

FRIDAY 29TH MAY: Light Walk

Tonight, Friday 29th May, is the first night for the guided tours of Smart Light Sydney’s Light Walk. 25 installations from Sydney Opera House, through Circular Quay, Sydney’s infamous Rocks, and concluding at Sydney Observatory, showcase dazzling, creative and innovative works of art by local and international artists.

These Light-art works utilize Smart Lighting; i.e.: energy efficient light sources, interactive technology, real time footage… showing examples of Theatrical lighting techniques, architectural lighting, theatrical based projects, and sculptural pieces.

For three weekends Friday and Saturday (and Sunday for the long weekend), guided tours start from Sydney Opera house roundabout at end of Macquarie st, and finish at Observatory rotunda. Times are: 6.30, 7.30. 8.30pm, and go for about an hour- hour & half. By Siobhan McNabb

Then... When Doves Fly

After the launch I headed along circular quay to Customs house, enjoying the Light Walk art works along the way…. When the Doves cry is the theatrical performance based installation by Mary-Anne Kyriakou, founder of Smartlight Sydney, and Joe Snell, Sydney based Architect. Set within the foyer of customs house sits a baby-grand amidst a frost of metal rods, and a flock of white doves, white powder-coated reflectors. Some of These doves house LED light sources within.


Mary-Anne, also a composer, created a piano piece especially for this work. The leds are responsive to certain notes and chords, so when played, the orchestrated leds turn on and off, and change intensity – thus creating a sense of movement through the flock of doves.

To herald the launch of this intervention Mary-Anne, her self, played the piano, the doves flew and hovered in undulating waves, as the soft lyrical notes resonated through the foyer. This is certainly a must see. During the tours there will be a professional pianist playing Mary-Anne's composition for all the experience this installation. By Siobhan McNabb

TUESDAY 26th MAY: Vivid Launch

Vivid launch party was last night to officially open its many festivals; Luminous, creative Sydney and Smart Light Sydney. Held at the Overseas Terminal on the West side of Circular Quay within the rocks area, we over looked the water, and the piece de-résistance; the Sydney Opera House.

After the Speeches we counted down for the flick of the switch….and bang, the Opera house Sails were in full bloom, lit by artist Brian Eno. 1000 images will cover the sails during this 3 week festival, not 1 image will be repeated. The colorful abstract compositions (not sure if there is any concept behind the work) are projected by 14 video projectors using custom lens created for the Beijing Olympic Games. These were housed above the terminal where we were drinking, eating and being entertained by live Djs and singers, roller-skater in white suits with LED umbrellas, and dark figures covered in glow-sticks walking on stilts.

The set-up of the venue was extremely impressive; the largest LED screen I have ever been witness to was the back drop spanning the whole space, approx 30meters by 8meters high. The graphics were dynamic with festivals logos and other dynamic color patterns. The Side walls were draped in black curtains with sparkly star colored LEDS. Glowing opal acrylic large bars for gathering around, were Placed around the polished concrete floor. The main bar was also in glowing color beneath the Led screen, not that it was required as the service was impeccable – free flowing bubbles, wines, beers and soft drinks, the food delicious too, but Peter and Jo catering – yum! And the Balcony over the water, views of the Sails…all added to a great party, one of the best. A party which you felt special to be attending. By Siobhan McNabb

MONDAY 25TH MAY: Light Walk Set Up

The artists are placing up and finishing their final touches on their Light-Art works for the much anticipated Light Walk. I was lucky enough to go tonight for my tour guide induction while the artists were setting up their works. An amazing array of works and lighting techniques.

While Alex Haw’s work at the rotunda wasn’t completed, I could recognize the affect will be amazing, his relaying weather patterns form across Australia and projecting them on the inside of the domed ceiling.

I met Reinhard Germer who has works with his colleagues from Meinhardts Lighting, Sydney, placed through park. Blue LEDS up-light tree trunks, while a shadow patterns are cast down from the branches illuminating a park bench below.

Francesco Mariotti of Switzerland has a very Smart art piece. Attached on to a wire patrician wall, small recycled PET bottles house green Leds, which flash and create moving patterns in a totally random manner, and when a person goes towards this wall of green Fire Flies, the flashing pattern changes.

The Ghosts of the Rocks huddle mysteriously under a canopy of trees, their faces glowing white from behind their long grey cloaks… There are many many art works of all degrees to take in… so please go and enjoy yourself on the walk.

Also – another smart note – is that you can use Blue-tooth on the walk – and see information on the artists and sculptures while you walk http://www.smartlightsydney.mobi/ for more information take a look at the SMARTLIGHT towers strategically placed along the route. By Siobhan McNabb

Siobhan McNabb

We are proud to have Siobhan McNabb as a guest blogger, Siobhan is a Senior Architectural Lighting Consultant for Euroluce Lighting Australia. She will give you insight into the action packed opening week of Smart Light Sydney!

Switch OFF to Switch ON...

Smart Light Sydney is timed to coincide with the 2009 phase out of GLS incandescent light bulbs in Australia. We want to engage and educate the public on the potential offered by smart and efficient lighting.

We are encouraging businesses and buildings around Circular Quay to SWITCH OFF their lights throughout the festival period to try and work towards providing a carbon neutral/carbon negative event. Each light turned off in the CBD will help offset the very low amounts of energy used by the Light Walk sculptures.

So do your bit and if you don't need it, turn it off!

The countdown begins! 6 more days...

Get down to Circular Quay next Tuesday 26 May for the huge opening of Smart Light Sydney. Be there at 6pm sharp for the big 'switch on' and be the first to experience the 25 fantastic light-art sculptures on display for the Light Walk, it's going to be amazing.

72 Erskine

The lovely folks at 72 Erskine are now on board for Smart Light Sydney. 72 Erskine is an amazing creative space in the heart of Sydney. Check it out at: www.72erskine.com

The Illuminating Engineers Society will be hosting a series of FREE events 'Illumination at 72 Erskine' on 3, 4, 10 and 11 June from 3.30pm. Come along and find out about the future of lighting design and then join us for a guided tour of the Light Walk.

72 Erskine are also hosting the amazing 'Spectrum Series' which I'm contributing to as one of their artists in residence. Details on the 72 Erskine website.

Keith from Real Time arts magazine has written a great write up on the Smart Light event in this month's Real Time magazine.

http://www.realtimearts.net/article/90/9396 has a great feature on Smart Light and each of the lighting components.

Also had a chat with English futurist archi disciplinary designer Alex Haw on the mobile to London for an hour.... I'm not sure Alex, if that is the way you describe your work but its really cosmic and can't wait to see the Rotunda.

Smart Light team are looking forward to launching our program on May 7 with a full list of artists and the final Light Walk map.

We've just confirmed Joe Snell's amazing installation, Songlines, at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as part of our Light Walk. This beautiful art piece creates a natural harp that is played by the wind and at night is lit by low-energy, smart lighting.

inspirational - joost van santen makes use of dichroic glass and daylight

Send us your light art works!

Got a piece of light art you'd like to share? Send us an email at info@smartlightsydney.com with a photo and description and you could be featured on the Smart Light Sydney blog.

Smart Light Sydney announced as part of Vivid Sydney

Andy Uprock, Warren Langley, me and Joe Snell at Vivid Sydney media call.

Smart Light Sydney has joined the new Vivid Sydney festival, with a media call at Sydney Opera House last week showcasing our event. Event took place backstage at Sydney Opera House - a great space. This is my art light sculpture on show at the event.

Brian Eno participating in Light Walk

An artist's impression of Brian Eno's art installation on Sydney Opera House's sails - an exciting addition to our Light Walk!

Smart Light Sydney: Light Walk

An impression of Warren Langley's amazing 'Vessel of (Horti)Cultural Plenty' light art sculpture, one of the highlights of our Smart Light Sydney Light Walk.