Art for the people
Lumière accepting artist proposals until April 24
For one frenetic weekend each September, our city is warmed by the vibrant glow of the Lumière Arts Festival.
Dozens of artists, some of them friends and neighbours, and others visiting from out of province, install their works of contemporary art along
our streets and in our storefronts.
For three days (Sept. 21-23) we gather to learn, create and share, and these workshops culminate in the art-at-night event that gives Lumière its namesake. Daytime venues like the Smart Shop transform into tiny, living MoMAs (Museum of Modern Art).
There are thousands of attendees and everyone has a favourite installation — whether it was a giant pylon, a faux-Chinese food stand or some streetside theatre led by a man with a booming voice and a giant wagon.
This is art for the people. As a festival attendee and now a member of the Lumière board and the volunteer co-ordinator, I have seen all sides of this incredible festival.
I’m there every month as we discuss the details of the grant applications that keep us going, as we imagine what further supports and opportunities we can offer artists in our community and as we dream about what amazing talent we may get to showcase each fall.
Starting late this summer I will work closely with the 50 or so festival volunteers as we organize ourselves into teams, learn about the festival and eventually help the attendees navigate the dizzying array of installations and events.
I’ll be there from the top of the day to the last of the night making sure the artists have help for set up and tear down. I’ve even sat on the jury once, where I had the chance to read the carefully thought out and articulate visions of the artists themselves.
The artists never describe their work using words like “Giant Pylon” but in the vernacular of the night that’s what they become. “The woman melting gold,” “the tree that you tie things to” and “those creepy guys with the glowing scythes” are just some of the names the public gives to these creations.
What is it like for the artists and performers to see their own visions embraced and transformed by the public? I’d say it’s magic.
It’s the public’s ownership over this festival that makes it so magical.
“As someone who teaches in the area of arts, culture and environment at Cape Breton University I admire how the festival manages to accomplish what I try to do in my classroom. It allows an alternative space for people and the arts to meet each other.”
Is it too cheesy to say that the light — the lumière — comes from what the visitors bring to the streets between sunset and midnight? Yes, because that’s only a quarter of it. The artists are the core, the Lumière board and our festival volunteers give it the shape, the Sydney Waterfront District Business owners make it possible, and then there is the public who animate it all with their curiosity and enthusiasm. And of course, let’s not forget the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, our incredible sponsors and partners.
As someone who teaches in the area of arts, culture and environment at Cape Breton University I admire how the festival manages to accomplish what I try to do in my classroom. It allows an alternative space for people and the arts to meet each other.
The call for artist proposals is open from now until April 24 (lumierecb.com/artist). I can’t wait to see the proposals and I’ll be so curious to see what they transform into by the time that warm (OK ... often cool) September night rolls around.