Lumonics received a grant from The Denver Theatre District Microgrant Program in May, 2024. The funds will be used to present field trips for Title 1 Schools in the Denver Metro Area.
The field trip consists of a tour of the gallery, art studio, and art school; a short documentary about the history of Lumonics, among the first and longest-running light art projects in the United States; a light and sound immersion, orchestrated live; and concludes with a question and answer session. Teachers are provided with a follow-up lesson plan for the classroom.
About the Denver Theatre District:
The Denver Theatre District consists of a 16-block area of downtown Denver that enables interactive, immersive and experimental arts and culture events and experiences. It provides creatives with a platform and financial support for sharing their work.
Today, we had a wonderful group of residents from Morningstar Assisted Living. They toured the gallery rooms, the art studio and light art school, and then were seated for the light and sound immersion.
Light art traces its roots back to ancient civilizations, where techniques like shadow puppetry entertained and told stories using light sources such as oil lamps and candles. The 17th-century invention of the magic lantern marked a significant leap forward, captivating audiences with colorful imagery and animations. Today, Lumonics stands as a beacon of innovation in projection art, blurring the lines between cinema, sculpture, and performance with its pioneering work in immersive experiences.
Contemporary Projection Art:
In the digital age, Lumonics continues to lead the way in projection art, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality. These advancements push artistic boundaries, creating mesmerizing installations and multimedia performances that redefine the art form.
Impact of Lumonics:
Lumonics art engages multiple senses, offering viewers a deeper connection and prompting reflection on perception and reality. It transforms spaces, fosters community engagement, and explores themes of temporality and existence, leaving a lasting impression on all who experience it.
Preserving Lumonics Art:
Preserving Lumonics’ legacy is vital to honoring its significant contributions to the development of light and sound as artistic mediums. By ensuring accessibility to future generations, Lumonics continues to inspire and enrich lives, contributing to cultural tourism and economic growth.
Lumonics has made significant contributions to the development of light, sound, and projection as an artistic movement paving the way for immersive experiences. Preserving their works honors their legacy and allows their artistic achievements to be celebrated and studied by future generations of artists and art enthusiasts.
Lumonics has the power to educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of individuals. We want to ensure that these artworks endure that remain accessible to the public, and find inspiration in creative expression.
Lumonics plays a crucial role in attracting tourists and promoting cultural tourism, contributing to the economic growth and cultural vitality of our local community. Lumonics contributes to the identity and sense of place unique to the greater Denver area. However, traveling the world and sharing with a broader community is a long-term goal.
This fundraiser aims to protect and preserve more than 200 light sculptures created by Mel and Dorothy Tanner. The Lumonics archives also include collages, sketchbooks, hand-painted 35- millimeter slides, original projector tray paintings, preserved media articles, photographs, and an expanding library of music visuals; in addition to raising money for creating a sustainable legacy and future, including marketing and pr efforts, establishing a Friends Of Lumonics non-profit, and ultimately creating partnerships to share this art with the world.
Today, we hosted students and some parents of the HOPE Online Learning Academy, the first online school in Colorado, originating over 20 years ago. They were very appreciative of the light art and Lumonics Immersed. School Administrator Rebecca also engaged the students with her observations. We emailed our lesson plan to follow up the field trip.
HOPE is a non-profit, free, public charter school of the Douglas County School District.
