Preview of “Southern Lights” at the Congaree River

Southern Lights, a signature, long-term art installation by artist Chris Robinson, will span the Congaree River between the Blossom Street and Gervais Street bridges. The general public was invited to preview the installation at “First Night Southern Lights” on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 as part of the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend Celebrations.

Attendees were able to get a feel for the magnitude and scope of the finished installation as they discovered blue and green laser beams and explored the early stages of Robinson’s artistic vision.

The festivities began at Coble Plaza behind EdVenture Children’s Museum. Attendees heard from the Mayors of Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce and learned more about Southern Lights.

Mayor Steve Benjamin spoke about the importance of regional collaboration.

Southern Lights is a unique and one-of-a-kind artistic piece, largely because of its ambitious scale and artistic intricacy. Finishing the installation will require more time, but we expect it will be completed and operating nightly in 2018.

About Southern Lights

Upon completion, Southern Lights is scheduled to light up evenings in Cayce, West Columbia and Columbia. This installation was inspired by a What’s Next Midlands idea, and is coming to fruition thanks to support from One Columbia for Arts and History, the Congaree Vista Guild, and several other community partners.

With additional support from the cities of Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce and Richland County, the installation’s design is meant to connect the Midlands community. The project offers an innovative approach to public art, celebrating and uniquely highlighting both public infrastructure and one of our greatest regional assets — the riverfront. Southern Lights will be the only long-term installation of its kind in the United States, and honors the work of Charles Townes, a native South Carolinian whose theories led to the development of laser technology.

Along with the leadership and support from the surrounding cities, the Midlands business community, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and Nephron Pharmaceuticals, has stepped up to sponsor the project. Their investments will help cover the estimated $120,000 piece that will enhance our region for years to come.

About Chris Robinson:

Robinson, a professor in the School of Visual Art and Design at the University of South Carolina, concentrates on contemporary science and technology and its role in decision-making through installations and digital drawings. He holds a BFA from Florida State and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts and is the recipient of many awards including the Leonardo da Vinci Space Art Award and the Palmetto Pillar Award, along with many competitive art awards. He has lectured, written and exhibited extensively throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Robinson has completed dozens of large-scale installations in his career, most notably installations on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (in conjunction with Rockne Krebs), and in Columbia his light installation at the celebration of the opening of the South Carolina State Museum in 1989 and for the Governor’s Carol Lighting at the South Carolina State House in 1992.

“My installations create a sculptural structure, draw attention to interesting aspects of the surrounding environment and illuminate the distinctive quality of laser light,” said Robinson. “The Congaree River is special and unusual in that it is relatively dark in the middle of an urban environment and the beams can go both under and over the bridges and the viewers.”

Southern Lights is representative of Robinson’s body of work and marks the end of Robinson’s academic career in the School of Visual Art & Design at the University of South Carolina (May 31, 2017). Robinson will become chair of the Department of Art at USC Beaufort this fall.

Southern Lights: Columbia’s Signature Public Art Piece

Once complete, this installation is slated to light up the night for three hours every evening, (times will change depending on what time the sun sets). The City of Columbia is committed to the ongoing maintenance and management of Southern Lights, as is the South Carolina State Museum. Those who visit the riverfront regularly will be able to take in Southern Lights, and coming signage and wayfinding will ensure visitors to the region will discover this major attraction for years to come.

Images are available, here. For more information on Southern Lights, visit SouthernLightsSC.com and on social media via #SouthernLightsSC.

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