Light Nelson 8 - 12 July 2016

The nights may be drawing in, but Nelson locals and visitors can look forward to an explosion of light to brighten up the darkest time of the year - ‘Light Nelson’, the city’s winter light festival, will be back from July 8 to 12.

The call went out to artists late last year for works to be part of Light Nelson 2016, and Caroline Marshall from the selection panel says there are over 40 stunning installations that made the cut.

“We have seen an amazing array of concepts for Light Nelson from locals and from afar. We were looking for installations where light was integral to the concept and for aspects such as science, fantasy, the use of new technology, respect for the environment and having something to say,” she said. “We’re really excited at the level of diversity, the wonderful mix of artists working collaboratively and the strong level of community input.”

Marshall said a stand-out example embracing many of these criteria is the entry from Nelson’s Kayan community, led by John-Paul Pochin and Dr Kay Sneddon.

“This installation is called Camplight and it is going to be both spectacular and intriguing,” Marshall said. “The former refugees from Burma are weaving ceremonial banners, known as Tungs, incorporating electrical thread connected to LEDs…these will surround a ‘campfire’ of musicians playing the instruments they made in the refugee camps from whatever waste materials they could find. Right now the women are weaving the tungs on back-strap looms in their homes – I find it really moving that Light Nelson offers these former refugees a way to engage in an arts event in their new community.”

Light Nelson Trust Chair Brian Riley says in its third airing, Light Nelson will quite literally be ‘bigger and brighter’.

“We were somewhat overwhelmed by the crowds in 2014, so we have introduced changes to manage the event in a way that makes it an even better experience for everyone,” he said. “First off we have increased the number of nights the event will be on, to create more options for people to attend. We have NMIT support to extend more onto their campus, we are planning to close part of Hardy St, and it’s likely we’ll be guiding visitors through the installations in a one-way system. The details are still being worked on but people can be assured of a wonderful experience.”

Riley said there is increased funding behind Light Nelson this year with the Nelson City Council, Rata Foundation, Port Nelson Limited, Arthouse Architects, Resene Paints, Opus International and Nelson Pine Industries all providing support, as well as a growing group of ‘Luminaries’ – private individuals and smaller businesses who donate at a signficant level.

“We have been able to show funders that Light Nelson not only draws the community together, it also brings in the visitors as a winter windfall for the hospitality and retail sectors, which is reflected in the confidence shown by our core funders,” he said. “The essence of Light Nelson is art at its most accessible, and with our sponsors’ help we can keep it as a free event for everyone to enjoy.”

To find out more about Light Nelson 2016 visit the website, www.lightnelson.org.nz, join us on Facebook or join our mailing list to receive our regular newsletters by sending an email to info@lightnelson.org.nz

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