Aquatic Projections
MoCA L.I.ghts Festival, Patchogue, NY | October 14 – 17, 2021 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM each evening
Tonight begins the MoCA L.I.ghts Festival on Long Island. The facades of contemporary and historic buildings, the Theater Marquee, and Patchogue Art Council’s pop-up projection galleries will illuminate Patchogue village with projected artworks, animation, and site-specific media works created by local, national, and international artists. There will also be touch tanks and presentations given by Cornell Cooperative Extension about our marine wildlife, local seashore, and fish industry. It’s free and open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. The map can be found in the link below.
I've created a few animations from my watercolor paintings for this event, all about our local sea life, real and imagined:
Autumn Atlantic marks the sea migration of our whales who pass by our island on their way to the north around this time. (shown at ART ON THE MARQUEE ®; Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts)
Autumn Atlantic, still image from animated projection on the Patchogue Theater for the Arts
Octopus is an animation of my drawings inspired by visits to the Long Island Aquarium’s resident Pacific Octopus. Although there haven’t been sightings of this kind of cephalopod within our nearby shores, we do have other kinds like the longfin inshore squid, though I haven’t yet drawn them! (shown at NIGHT VISIONS PROJECTED GALLERY: Roe Walkway and Better Man Distillery)
Octopus, still image from animated projection on Roe Walkway and Better Man Distillery
Crown Mermaid is a composite animation of my mermaid watercolors along with sea urchins and wild fish. My mermaids are inspired by the powerful and beautiful women whom I’ve known, and by the myths of mermaids in our local history. (shown at MoCA building facade, Terry Street)
Here is the map to all events and projections.
Crown, Mermaid - still image from animated projection on the MoCA Museum facade
Separately, there was an interesting article about the efforts of preserving the water around Plum Island over the summer. Scientists and divers explored Plum Island’s untouched waters and revealed pristine conditions, sea coral, and other healthy sea life. There will soon be a report about their findings supported by the New York Natural Heritage Program and sponsored by the nonprofit Save the Sound, in efforts to create a protected sanctuary. Hopefully, this will transpire!
