via clarionledger.com
Mississippi State University student Zac White began his involvement with the first-ever Mississippi Light Festival with the idea that it would be a nice line on his resum茅.
He quickly found the festival鈥檚 mission, to combine science and art to inspire a new generation of Mississippians, making its impact on his own life.
Working in collaboration with England-based artist Polly Lane, White has created a pair of installations that will be among many to light up downtown Jackson Friday for the European-style light festival, a free event that鈥檚 open to all.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about using light as an embodiment of life that a city should have,鈥 White said from Jackson鈥檚 澳门天天好彩, where he is a fifth-year 澳门天天好彩 student. 鈥淲ith all of the aspects of light that I鈥檝e learned, it鈥檚 one aspect of architecture that fades into the background, especially here in Jackson, where everyone vacates at night.鈥
Using inspiration from Enlightenment thinkers Thomas Newton and Johann Goethe, combined with artists Christian Marclay and James Turrell 鈥斕齛nd through guidance from Lane 鈥斕齏hite has created a pair of installations that will be on display in the Arts Center of Mississippi, located next to听the Mississippi Museum of Art.
White鈥檚 largest installation uses reclaimed florescent lights to create a听finished product inspired by Andy Warhol.
White is among six fifth-year architecture students participating in the light festival, which will also feature the work of 14 local and international artists, including Jackson native Josh Hailey and a permanent installation from Christopher Rees and Michael Roy, better known as Ninjacat & Birdcap.
The Mississippi Museum of Art will serve as the anchor for the festival, with surrounding buildings, including the Jackson Convention Complex听and Thalia Mara Hall, featuring interactive installations that will run on a loop from 6 to 11 p.m.
From 6 to 8 p.m., a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab will be held in the Arts Center. The Mississippi听Light Collaborative is raising money to promote STEM education throughout the state through different initiatives between now and next year鈥檚 light festival.
鈥淚f you go to the (Canton) Nissan plant, it鈥檚 all robots,鈥 said Mississippi听Light Collaborative director Anik Kurkjian. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the problem听solvers and true creatives, both engineers and designers, where the true healthy workforce lies.鈥
Kurkjian said the collaborative hosted an open house for volunteers over the weekend听and was excited to meet an 8-year-old who discovered a passion for origami, which the group is connecting听to light and electricity.
It鈥檚 a moment that Kurkjian hopes is repeated Friday and beyond. The Light Collaborative plans to create permanent light installations around Jackson over the next year in poorly lit areas that she said are viewed as 鈥渄angerous.鈥
鈥(We) want to facilitate the concept, talk to the community and help them design (an installation) that will make them feel better, feel proud,鈥 Kurkjian said.
Jackson resident William Dalton makes his money in the information technology field, but his real passion is working with electronics.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a soldering iron in my hand since I was 6,鈥 Dalton said.
He got involved with the Light Festival in recent weeks by volunteering his expertise with architectural students, including White. Dalton said working with the festival has been an inspiration for him, but he鈥檚 excited for what it will mean for the youngest generation.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e thinking out of the box听and you鈥檙e 8 years old, you鈥檝e (got) an engineer at a young age,鈥 Dalton said. 鈥淭he festival will help to incorporate and teach kids, which is building engineers in a state that can really use them.鈥