Imagine walking through a garden of light, with blooming glass flora and fauna, towering mushrooms, glowing lanterns that project intricate patterns, and a massive snail blowing fire out of its antennas.
Oakland’s Autumn Lights Festival set the gardens at Lake Merritt aglow for three days, rounding up massive, interactive installations from more than 40 local artists. This last weekend brought new virtual experiences from Niantic (Pokemon GO), spooky exhibits including telephones with eerie messages when picked up, live performances, and an art market. In its seventh year, the festival has become a tradition, kicking off in 2011 to highlight Bay Area creators, while also helping to raise funds for Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt, who help maintain the natural beauty of the grounds, diverse plant collection, and habitats within.
For most of us though, it’s all about taking in the extraordinary light displays. In a dizzying spell of 47 exhibits, it was a wonderland of mind-bending delights from the kaleidoscopic portal dubbed GlowSticks by Todd Cooper and the Luster Cluster to Clody Cates’ DreamPipes, a towering display of PVC pipes with two waterfalls that purify the air around the structure. Favorites also include Luminescent Grand’s fully interactive LED piano and Astro Botanical’s Celestial Gardens where giant lotus blossoms and mushrooms provide cozy hideaways. Below are highlights from the prismatic event.
A flaming snail art car from Burning Man sets the festival ablaze.
Clody Cates’ DreamPipes clean the air.
Turn the knobs to win a prize.
Shadow Box Lanterns by Josh Katz.
Regeneration and Light by Tracy Jacobs Sculpture.
36 Cranes in Flight, a tribute to the Ghost Ship victims by Diane Matsumoto.
The Glass Garden by Kim Webster.
Astro Botanical’s Celestial Gardens.
Astro Botanical’s Celestial Gardens in full.
Featured photo by Zeke S.
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