More interactivity, lots of light, international DJs and even a Game of Thrones actor. All this and even more will fit into the programming of another LUZA – Algarve International Festival of Light, which will take place from 14 to 16 November, this time in Faro.
After two years in Loulé, the event moves to the neighboring Faro, with the aim of gaining scale and taking advantage of the dynamics of the district capital and a city that houses many services and a university.
The 2019 edition of LUZA was presented yesterday, the 29th, at Fábrica da Cerveja, in Vila-Adentro de Faro, which will be the neuralgic point of this event, which will spread to several points of the historic center of Faro.
And Beau McClellan, a Scottish artist who has long lived in the Algarve and who is the main driving force behind the festival, knows what he's coming up with.
“The big news this year is a greater focus on interactivity. We're going to push a lot out there», he warned, in a conversation with journalists, on the sidelines of the presentation of the LIGHT.
«In the first two editions, we did some interactive things and we noticed that there were a lot of people who liked to be part of the art. We all have something of an artist. And, when we facilitate this connection, people take advantage of it», he framed.
This interaction, in addition to promoting direct contact between the public and the light installations and their participation in the artistic creation process, also fosters interaction, as some of the activities are collaborative, something that "is essential to bring down barriers" .
"We're going to do incredible things, namely here at Fábrica da Cerveja", promised the person responsible for ByBeau Studio, which organizes the event in partnership with Eventors' Lab and with the support of the Chamber of Faro and from “365Algarve”.
With the change to Faro, there was also “an increase in scale”. On the other hand, event organizers will finally be able to have after parties with international DJs, «something that was not possible in Loulé. Bearing in mind that my life, in the past, was closely linked to music, this union between sound and light is something that I consider fundamental».
Despite this, as expected, the main focus of the festival continues to be light installations, which will be brought to Faro by 17 renowned artists from 12 countries. In addition to Beau McClellan, the festival will feature artists such as Kim von Coels, Tom Dekyvere, LedControl, Raquel Fradique and Mr. Beam, among many others. The full list of installations can be consulted here.
There will also be a space for new values, with the exhibition of pieces by young artists who presented proposals within the scope of LuzaLab. The program also includes workshops for all ages (see full program below or here).
The organization also highlights the presence of the international organization Women in Lighting with the project, “Guerrilla Lighting”. Elements of this women's organization designers of light will participate in another conference “Working with light”, alongside Mark Killeen, an actor who had a brief spell in the cult series Game of Thrones, by James Klinge, «one of the most respected street artists of Scotland', and Bruno Inácio, of the candidacy of the Chamber of Faro the European capital of culture.
As for the move from Loulé, the city where Beau McCcCellan maintains his studio, to Faro, it was a matter of strategy. «I love Loulé, it has a special place in my heart. It was really good for the first two years. But we wanted to take the opportunity of having the event in a city like Faro, with more audiences, more people, and project the festival», said the Scottish artist based in the Algarve.
"Right now, Faro it's a very city lit, which has amazing architectural elements. Lisbon and Porto are on, Faro comes after. It opens up great opportunities for us», he explained.
The issue of heritage “is very important, not only because [the buildings] are blank screens. We think, from the start, which artist will work best in the different spaces chosen for the festival. It's not about assigning any space to artists. We found specific artists for each heritage element».
On the other hand, in Faro “We always have people moving, even when nothing is happening. In Loulé, on the days when we were installing the pieces, no one was seen. On the weekend of the event, 30 people visited. Here in Faro, there are already this amount of people. We just need to bring this audience to the foot of our facilities».
“In Loulé, the point is that it is always necessary to bring a lot of people from abroad. And it works, it was excellent. But in Faro, we don't need to focus so much on that aspect, because people are already here”, reinforced Beau McClellan.
Faro, through its mayor, Rogério Bacalhau, thanks “the possibility of having this project”, which will combine “the beauty of light to our experience and our heritage”. Anabela Afonso, commissioner of “365Algarve”, pointed out LUZA as being a good example of the objectives of the program she manages, of cultural animation in the region in the low tourist season, since she proved that, “through culture, territories can be attractive», even when there is no sun and beaches.
Photos: Hugo Rodrigues|Sul Informação
Program
November 14
– 18:30 pm Official Opening of LUZA at the Doca de Faro
– 19:30 pm/21:00 pm/22:30 pm “Light Sound” LUZALAB – Raquel Fradique, at Fábrica da Cerveja
– 20:30 pm “Presentation to the Stars” – a project by the Live Science Center of the Algarve (admission fee)
– 00:00 am Closing of the 1st day of LUZA
November 15
– 16:00 pm – 17:00 pm LUZA kids – Hologram Creation Workshop by Museu Zer0, at Fábrica da Cerveja
(Note: workshop for children up to 12 years old, with a participation limit of 20 people, who will have to register in advance via [email protected])
– 18:30 pm Opening of the 2nd day LUZA
– 18:30 pm – 21:00 pm Workshop to explain the Guerrilla concept, preparation and rehearsals – Meeting Point at Fábrica da Cerveja / Guerrilla Lighting – Location: Rua António Maria Laboia
(Note: the workshop has a limit of 40 people, who will have to register in advance via [email protected])
– 19:30/21:00/22:30 “Light Sound” LUZALAB – Raquel Fradique at Fábrica da Cerveja
– 00:00 am Closing of the 2nd day of LUZA Festival
– 23:00 pm – 4:00 am After Party _ DJ Elliott with Guests at Fábrica da Cerveja (with paid entrance)
November 16
– 10:30 am – 12:30 pm “Desenhos de Luz” – a project by the Centro Ciência Viva do Algarve (admission fee)
– 15:30 pm – 17:30 pm “Working With light” conference at Fábrica da Cerveja
– 16:00 pm – 17:00 pm LUZA kids _ Hologram Creation Workshop by Museu Zer0 at Fábrica da Cerveja
(Note: workshop for children up to 12 years old, with a participation limit of 20 people, who will have to register in advance via [email protected])
– 18:30 pm Opening 3rd day LUZA
– 19:00 – 21:00 Workshop “Introduction to Light Painting Photography art”, Meeting point: Hotel Faro
(Note: the workshop has a limit of 20 people, who will have to register in advance via [email protected])
– 19:30/21:00/22:30 “Light Sound” LUZALAB – Raquel Fradique at Fábrica da Cerveja
– 21:30 pm – 00:00 am Pixsom by ARCMúsicos at Fábrica da Cerveja
– 00:00 Closing of the LUZA Festival
– 23:00 pm – 4:00 am After Party _ DJ Elliott with Guests at Fábrica da Cerveja (with paid entrance)
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