2021 Redmond Lights Preview

Welcome to Redmond Lights 2021!

Thank you for visiting Redmond Lights 2021! Explore and learn more about the art installations and light displays in Downtown Park. Follow the lights on Cleveland Avenue to Make A Night of It at Redmond Town Center!

1

Liquid Culture by Fez BeGaetz of Alchemy Arts

A sculptured figure of an Oak Tree carrying forward the lineage of the event’s history. Fabricated with steel snowflake geometries. to make-up the structure of the tree. A series of hanging “acorn” lanterns gesture towards the repeated lanterns from past years. LED lights wound around the armature will accentuate and amplify the forms, creating an illuminated “skin.”

2

Dhat Al-Zawaya by Amal Khalaf and Omar Sourour

Please note this piece will be installed the week on 12/6.The project leverages Arabic calligraphy to celebrate Islamic and Arabic contributions to astronomy considering the Redmond Lights theme. It consists of a rotating glass cube decorated with Arabic calligraphy of different scripts with different origins in the Middle Eastern world (Ottoman, Persian, Kufic, etc.). The cube has a light source embedded inside those lights and cyclically changes color to produce refractory patterns on the and illuminate the text sketched on the glass cube.

3

Ahoy! Ahoy! by Sophia Fang

Ahoy! Ahoy! is a ground mural that centers on 5 community-suggested dishes by immigrant-owned businesses local to the Redmond area, surrounded by a giant ocean wave. Steeped with the cultural heritage and practices of their passengers, the dishes act as travel vessels making headway across the waves, inviting all who enter the park to embark upon a shared journey of migration. Sophia Fang is a queer, Chinese-American watercolor artist building vibrancy in Seattle + Pittsburgh. Blending vibrant swatches of color and complex details, her watercolors combine whimsy and community joy to celebrate small businesses, immigrant placemaking, and food diasporas. Sophia has received public art commissions from the City of Redmond, City of Tukwila, City of Auburn, City of Pittsburgh, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and BOOM Concepts. Passionate about empowering local entrepreneurs, Sophia is the Head of Marketing at Honeycomb Credit, an Artist-in-Residence at Inscape Arts, and the winner of the 2021 ATHENA Young Professional Award.

4

Dear New Year by Sara Wilkes

The new year is a time for reflection, new beginnings, and change. Dear New Year highlights wishes for the new year, collected from community members. Each window in this piece contains a calligraphed wish, and every wish is, in turn, a window into someone else's perspective. Coming from a year of socially distancing, we are reminded that we are all united in our hope for good things to come.Sara Wilkes is a Bothell-based calligrapher and hand lettering artist, who loves working with words that inspire her. With color and whimsy, she creatively transforms those words into encouraging art. She loves learning new skills, and keeps her practice fresh with challenges and projects. She has thoroughly enjoyed being the caretaker of your wishes, and hopes they all come true!

5

aSpire by Ken Roepe

aSpire is a sculpture of consisting of luminous planes surrounding a central spire. The piece represents the human capacity to overcome adversity and aspire to reach greater heights. Shapes that ascend in size and height gives a sense of motion as if climbing towards a shining light. The lighting at the pinnacle of the sculpture responds to sound from participants at the ground level below, thereby establishing a direct connection to human action.Ken discovered an appreciation for art and architecture while travelling throughout Europe and Asia. Subsequent training in Industrial Design and Architecture led to a career in Architectural Lighting Design, gaining technical expertise and an inquisitive mindset along the way. Eventually this led towards a more artistic, creative path and away from functional design. What followed is an ongoing exploration of artistic expression, primarily through the use of light.Ken utilizes lighting knowledge and experience in much of his current work. He believes that light can have a profound impact on human experience and he uses light as an artistic medium to create those experiences. “Light requires a symbiotic relationship... Light cannot be seen until it comes in contact with the physical world.” he says. “Without the symbiotic relationship of light and materiality, neither can be fully appreciated”. Ken believes the interaction of light and material creates a wealth of opportunity for artistic exploration.

6

Phyre by Seattle Design Nerds

The rising flame, drawing all from near and far to gather around its warming glow. Humanity has long used fire as a source of warmth, a site for gathering and for holy consecration. The ancient Greeks built signal fire towers they called phyrctoraie to deliver messages from across great distances and it is in this spirit that we’ve constructed Phyre. An installation to gather around, share with others, and reflect on the past year. A not for profit group of designers collaborating to make Seattle a little more awesome. We focus on making exciting things for the public that can be experienced in unexpected locations and ways.

7

The Estates by Joe Mellin

The Estates investigates how we are living close to each other but can be experiencing very different lives. The installation is a series of four structures, each representing the back of a similar townhouse. Each has a sliding glass door where the viewer can peek inside and get a sense of a scene that is going on inside the structure. The viewer can also use their phone to listen in on what is happening inside the scene.

8

Gallery in the Park by Valencia Carroll

A pop-up art gallery created in a transparent, walk-in, dome-shaped tent with decorative lighting that displays artwork depicting all of the ways Redmond residents engage in and experience joy and play in this town. Artwork in this exhibition space is all inspired and created in collaboration with the Redmond community.Valencia Carroll is a classically trained graduate of the Gage Academy of Art – Aristides Atelier. Prior to her art training, she also trained and practiced as a board-certified art therapist with families and children. The role of “teaching artist” has given her the space to combine her skill-sets in art and art therapy allowing her to teach art to people of a wide variety of backgrounds while pursuing her own goals as a fine artist.Over the years, Valencia has worked as an Art Docent Program Coordinator and Art Docent in the Northshore School District where she has enjoyed sharing the stories and techniques of art and art making with K-5 students and their parents. Valencia has also exhibited, presented and taught at several other locations throughout western Washington including the Washington State History Museum, Northwest African American Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Theatre Group and the Maryhill Museum of Art.

9

Videos on the Buoyant Pavilion

View three short silent films projected on the Buoyant Pavillion from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. every evening during Redmond Lights. Learn more about each film on the next three tour stops!

10

Grandmother Butterfly by @hafaroldy

Growing up in Guahan (Guam) in the early 80s and 90s, one of my favorite memories was seeing butterflies all around my grandparents home. After my Nana passed away, my aunt told me that she had turned into a butterfly, so whenever you see one, you know she was around, protecting you. This video piece is in honor of her and all the butterflies ancestors that visit and protect us throughout our lives.

11

The Light of Things by Johanna Porter

The Light of Things”, an animated motion graphics short film, illuminates the principle that Unity is found in Diversity. My deepest wish is to visually convey that group action can shift our paths towards a brighter future.I have over 30 years of experience working in graphic design, illustration and art direction. In 2018 I returned to my roots as a visual artist creating works that are more relevant to my personal growth.

12

Bike Stories by Rey Daoed

Time lapse video of the painting process of these 3 works, “That is my bike!”, “ The story of a regular bike deconstructed to be an adaptive bike”, “Cyclists-The Big Day”. The artist invite the community to share their own bike stories #bikestories #redmondlights2021 #cyclistsofinstagram.Rey is an asian American artist with disability. Typing, handwriting, and text-to-speech apps are his preferred method of communication. Rey began painting in 2015, and the medium soon became an important secondary means of communication for him. Rey’s award-winning work has been featured in group exhibitions both locally and abroad.

13

Stang In There by RHS Junior Class Officers

"Stang In There ” is a golden horseshoe archway created by the Redmond High School Junior class. The arch is covered with messages written by Redmond High students that will wish the Redmond community good luck as we move into the New Year. Go Mustangs!

14

The Cyclists Journey by Rey Daoed

Marymoor Park was the site where the artist first learned how to ride a bike and "The Cyclist Journey" is a tribute.Rey is an asian American artist with disability. Typing, handwriting, and text-to-speech apps are his preferred method of communication. Rey began painting in 2015, and the medium soon became an important secondary means of communication for him. Rey’s award-winning work has been featured in group exhibitions both locally and abroad.

15

Untitled (Heron) by William Schlough

Created specifically for Redmond Lights in 2018, this oversized blue heron is taking off, inviting viewers to reconnect with the abundant natural wonders of the Sammamish River. Shaped from steel and wrapped with 1,000 LED lights, the piece celebrates the majestic form of this iconic local inhabitant.

16

Recollect by Cat Chiu Phillips

“Recollect” creates a unique experience combining post-consumer product innovation and sustainability while paying homage to traditional craft methods and the handmade. It offers a dialogue on sustainability, recycling, and conservation. “Recollect” consists of three large-scale star-shaped and circular lanterns (approximately 60” in diameter) created from discarded 35 mm slides and other e-waste. This piece honors the distinctive cultural tradition from the Philippines, it is inspired by the Parol lanterns made from bamboo and paper.

17

Mexican Lanterns by Hinojos & Jimenez Art

Hinojos & Jimenez Art presents, "Mexican Lanterns", inspired by papel picado or "pecked paper," a popular design form in Mexico used in banners and festivals. The lanterns contain luminous and colorful patterns of angels, the three wise men's crowns, doves, and other rich cultural images for this holiday season.

18

A Place that Remembers by Tina Velazquez Hays

The sculptural assemblage evokes gatherings and special meals with loved ones during the holidays. The candle lit intimacy and familiarity exploring the duality of love in close relationships; the joy of connection and the pain of loss. Both an inviting presence and noticeable absence, light illuminates aspects of the table and is itself dual-natured, both particle and wave. Tina Velazquez Hays is an emerging public artist whose public facing, heart-forward body of work embraces the intersection of art and community. Through the pandemic she has explored the nuanced connection between individuals, and the impact of separation on collective wellness and creative expression. In addition to her public art and studio practice, Tina has worked and partnered with community organizations as an art therapist and mental health advocate since 2009. In these roles she utilizes art as a powerful tool and process in the service of healing. Tina's studio art practice incorporates her interest in imaginary spaces and subjective meaning, using collage and painting to create mixed media still lifes and dynamic and colorful abstract paintings. For more of her work follow her on Instagram @emeraldripple or visit www.tinahays.com.

20

Thank You!

Thank you for visiting 2021 Redmond Lights! Please visit redmond.gov/redmondLights to learn more about participating in our Home Light Display Contest or the Kids Coloring Contest. You can also learn more about the artists, community organizations, and sponsors participating this year!

19

Make A Night of It at Redmond Town Center

Continue your night and follow the lights on Cleveland Ave heading east to 164th Ave NE. Turn right to reach Redmond Town Center for more holiday decorations, shopping, dining, and more!To learn more about the festivities at Redmond Town Center visit redmondTownCenter.com!