The 24th fantastic Illuminares Festival lit up John Hendry Park, Trout Lake, Vancouver, last Saturday, July 21st! The brain child of Artistic Producer, Ari Lazer and Creative Director, Azfir of the Public Dreams Society, this festival involves participants in making lanterns, displaying them throughout the park, parading their creations, story telling, singing, playing instruments, connecting with neighbors and artists and much more. To me, there is something really special about using a city park in a different way, sharing it with everyone and being able to actively participate on many levels, in the show. You can make lanterns or buy them, you can play instruments and sing even if you haven't done this before, you can be in a night parade and be illuminated or not and you can be a kid or an adult and both and enjoy every minute.
The park was filled with lantern lined paths, a l1 panel medicine wheel, choirs, bands, live sculptures, bicycles (for you to ride) hooked up to musical instruments, stilters, parades, fire dancers and people, people, people! To be greeted by a huge blue scaled fish stilter, as we walked onto the park grounds, gave us a hint of the magic unfolding as we walked further. Mother Nature, Queen of the World, pulled us along a path right to the lily pads at the water's edge. Harpists set the tone for reflection, making us take time to listen and look. A wise pair of Snowy Owls were a reminder of the park in winter. For every musical group, there were dancers, illuminated against the night sky. A swan on the beach came alive in the wind. Fire Dancers from the group, "Radiant Heat" told a story with flames. whirls and sparks of light against the inky black shadows. A giant floating face mask invited us to keep exploring and the illumni white faced twins cajoled us with their mimed dance. We met Yoko Tomita, (yokogeo@shaw.ca) holding her beautiful rabbit, one of 150 she created for this event. She paints, and works in Textile Art, Mosaic and Lanterns and invites us to visit her workshop. Star Trek even made an appearance, featuring Spock, watching stilt walkers dancing from other planets. Thanks to Public Dreams Society, Ari Lazer and Azfir, sponsors, artists, sponsors and everyone who made this fabulous event such a memorable experience. Can't wait until next one: Parade of Lost Souls, Halloween!
Photos courtesy of Colleen Tsoukalas
1 comment:
The dancers are my favorites.
Post a Comment