IN-PERSON London. Section B

Abstract

You don’t see fireflies in the Pacific Northwest. The type that live in this colder, damper environment glow only faintly, their sparks too dim to perceive. The climate makes for opulent forests, but in the coastal cities, the frequent drizzle results in mossy rooftops, water-stained concrete, and the premature erosion of the built environment. With an average exceeding 150 days of rain per year, Vancouver, Canada has won the nickname ‘Raincouver.’ The population of 2.6 million in the Metro Vancouver area also endures the least affordable housing of any Canadian city. For many, urban living can feel like a struggle. It is on this stage of soaked streets that nights could appear especially grim, if not for the creative use of light. Artists and designers are working with light to make Raincouver a more livable city. In neon works such as Justin Langlois’ ‘Should I Be Worried?’, Martin Creed’s ‘Everything is Going to Be Alright,’ Kathleen Ritter’s ‘Gaslight,’ and Toni Latour’s ‘Let’s Heal the Divide,’ messages illuminate the sky, reflect across the surface of puddles, to share in the thoughts and feelings of the city’s residents. Debra Sparrow’s projects in ‘Blanketing the City: Lighting the Way,’ reprogram the coloured lights of iconic buildings to brightly display traditional Coast Salish weaving patterns, an indigenization of the landscape. In examining these works and others, this presentation will explore how creative uses of light can build a sense of belonging, and create those unexpected moments of delight that make a city truly livable.