Light Write

People of a certain age grew up creating light-based artworks with the aid of Lite-Brite, which was, as the slogan noted, "outta sight." But once adulthood slams into you, you rarely play with light, other than the occasional light-switch rave at work. The Luminary Center for the Arts (4900 Reber Place; 314-807-5984 or www.thelumiaryarts.com) shows us what we're missing through its new show, Writing with Light: A New Media Exhibit. Featuring work by artists who use light-based media, Writing with Light's centerpiece is Joseph Poon's Resurrection: 40, a sculptural installation that features 40 analog television sets playing video scored to Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 9, a piece famous for its journey from Romantic expressionism to dissonance to violence before ending with reluctant but calm acceptance. Kinda similar to TV's advance and eventual dominance of American life, maybe. Also of note is Ashley Kopp's Reflection, which layers photography with painting and drawing to create a luminous, abstract work that could be cliffs rising against a molten skyline. Writing with Light opens with a free public reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 16. Following the reception, the Luminary's Elevator Music Series continues with free performances by Early Day Miners, Metavari and Fractured Army.
Sat., May 16, 2009