AUTUMN LIGHTS FESTIVAL 2023
Mayor’s
AWARD
SHELLY THE CRAB
Bree Hoffman
PG&E
SPONSor’s AWARD
THE AFTERLIFE
Blitzy, Chickpea, Steve Dudek, Noah S.
MARQUETA
SPONSOR’s AWARD
ASSATA SHAKUR
MJ (Molly Jane)
The Rest of the Winners
Thursday, October 12th
Oakland Pub. Works Director’s Award:
Gourdgeous Gourds
Artist: Keeper of the Gourds
Waste Management Innovator Award:
Day of the Dead Barbie and Ken
Artist: Brooke A. Levin
PRAC Sponsor’s Award:
PF3000
Artist: Film Collective
Oakland Parks & Rec. Foundation:
Serenity of the Soul
Artist: Parks Services Gardeners
Lake Merritt Breakfast Club:
Ramshackle
Artist: Cameron Kephart & Ashley Terry
Friday, October 13th
Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas:
Garden Queen
Artist: Clive Brown
Councilmember Dan Kalb:
Mermaid Glimmer’s Jellyfish Grotto
Artist: Erin St Blaine
PG&E Sponsor’s Award:
The Afterlife
Artist: Blitzy, Chickpea, Steve Dudek, Noah S.
Oakland Soul/Roots Sponsor’s Award:
“Oakland Is”
Artist: Oakland High- VAAMP
The Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt – Gold Standard Award:
John Tsutakawa
Saturday, October 14th
Mayor’s Award:
Shelly the Crab
Artist: Bree Hoffman
Councilmember Carroll Fife Award:
Neon Voices
Artist: Mauricio Bustos
Marqeta Sponsor’s Award:
Assata Shakur
Artist: MJ (Molly Jane)
Oaklandish Sponsor’s Award:
Serenity of the Soul
Artist: Parks Services Gardeners
The Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt – Blonde Raccoon Award:
Jennifer Azulay
2023 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
NUCLEUS
by Joshua Hubert
NUCLEUS
by Joshua Hubert
Nucleus is presented as a proposed upgrade to the historic landmark installation of the Necklace of Light that encompasses Lake Merritt. Nucleus uses a brand new technology that allows the simple replacement of the bulbs with full color LED bulbs that can send data along the original 2 wire system, sending both power and data along a single positive cable allowing each bulb to be individually controlled to create dynamic animations that flow and sparkle around the lake.
LUMINARIA
by Dedicated Deadheaders
LUMINARIA
by Dedicated Deadheaders
Small white paper bags with electric tealights illuminating paths
CHROMOS 1, 2, 3
by Armelle Le Roux
CHROMOS 1, 2, 3
by Armelle Le Roux
These three pieces are abstract glass mosaics.
ARTIST'S EMAIL: armelleglass@gmail.com
HOMMAGE
TO OSCAR
GRANT
by Armelle Le Roux
HOMMAGE TO
OSCAR GRANT
by Armelle Le Roux
A painted and fuse glass slab as a memorial to Oscar Grant and Occupy Oakland
ARTIST'S EMAIL: armelleglass@gmail.com
CRYSTAL
CORE
by Evo Heyning
CRYSTAL CORE
by Evo Heyning
Look into the crystal forest, find the crystal ball and see the future. What will you see?
QARDEN
QUEEN
by Clive Brown
GARDEN QUEEN
by Clive Brown
Large ornate lit flower on old tree stump.
ARTIST'S EMAIL: cliveeta@yahoo.com
THE SIGN
FOREST
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
THE SIGN FOREST
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
A sign forest highlighting the gardens, features, plants, and wildlife that call this garden home.
GARDENS
OF BLUE
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
GARDENS OF BLUE
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
Illuminated quilt of botanical cyanotypes made on site by volunteers at the Gardens of Lake Merritt.
HORTI-RECYCLE-CULTURE
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
HORTI-RECYCLE-CULTURE
by FGLM Rose Squad Volunteers
Illuminated flowers and mushrooms created with thrifted plates, bowls, and vases.
RAMSHACKLE
by Cameron Kephart
and Ashley Terry
RAMSHACKLE
by Cameron Kephart and Ashley Terry
Magical playhouse on chicken legs that spins around the forest keeping a watchful eye for sneaky children. Stained glass windows peer into funny dioramas within the house. Primarily recycled materials.
PROJECT FLASHLIGHT
by Neal Strickberger
PROJECT FLASHLIGHT
by Neal Strickberger
Pure, incredibly bright white beams from massive searchlights interactively controlled by audience members. Contrasts with the night sky, visible for miles.
SUBQUERCUS
by Aimee Baldwin, Logan Daniel
and John Daniel
SUBQUERCUS
by Aimee Baldwin, Logan Daniel and
John Daniel
SubQuercus: Under the Oak. Softly lit hand-crafted paper lanterns and sound installation, creating a warm inviting space that celebrates and illuminates the often overlooked smaller elements of life found under Coastal Live Oak, and in other California native habitats.
BEE PANTRY
by Alvéole
BEE PANTRY
by Alvéole
Big flowers, lights, and silhouettes of a variety of bee species with educational blurbs for people to read about them.
PYRAMID POWER and CUBE
by Wesley Warren
PYRAMID POWER
AND CUBE
by Wesley Warren
LED programmed cube and tower that runs through a series of programmed light patterns.
LASER LIGHT
LAVA LAMP
by Coherent Caustics
LASER LIGHT
LAVA LAMP
by Coherent Caustics
The viewer sees an abstract, complex, continuously transforming and immersive laser-generated image projected on a dome which is viewed from the outside. Formed by caustics and interference of coherent light, the images are ethereal and often evoke the feeling of being underwater - hypnotic, mesmerizing, and psychedelic.
ILLUMINATA
by Marina Polakoff
and Grant Patterson
ILLUMINATA
by Marina Polakoff and Grant Patterson
Illuminata is a wearable art piece reminiscent of a deep-sea jellyfish. Its tentacles and body react to ambient sound in its environment, creating a constantly-changing work of pseudo-natural beauty.
instagram.com/grantpatterson
instagram.com/polakoffstudio
FOR THE LOVE
OF WIENERS
by Tenaya Conklin
FOR THE LOVE OF WIENERS
by Tenaya Conklin
Wiener dogs are the best of man's best friend, and we celebrate our love for them in these LED and upcycled sculptures. Check out the sound reactive jewelry, shimmering on all the lovable hounds as well as more wearable tech, doggy style.
MERMAID GLIMMER’S JELLYFISH GROTTO
by Erin St Blaine
MERMAID GLIMMER’S JELLYFISH GROTTO
by Erin St Blaine
A swarm of iridescent jellyfish stream overhead, glowing and reflecting a mesmerizing, dancing light show. Inspired by the work of Dale Chihuly.
BUTTERFLY
EFFECT - Migration is Beautiful
by Kaia Marbin and Lillian Ellis
BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Migration is Beautiful
by Kaia Marbin and Lillian Ellis
Origami and cricut butterflies lit up with LED lights and spotlights in solidarity with migrant children coming to the US.
PORTALS FOR PEOPLE
by Seth Marbin
PORTALS FOR PEOPLE
by Seth Marbin
Portals are windows or doorways into another world. Portals for People start as digital photographs of a scene or objec tand capture a moment with the light, energy, and emotion of a particular place and time. Portal prints are for sale and benefit nonprofit organizations with a focus on increasing justice, equity, compassion, and inclusion.
SELFIE SPOT
by Anca Mosoiu
SELFIE SPOT
by Anca Mosoiu
The Autumn Lights Festival logo beautifully rendered to glow at night.
THE BUTTERFLEET
by Anca Mosoiu
THE BUTTERFLEET
by Anca Mosoiu
Butterfly in Light is a larger-than life film of a monarch in flight, each frame rendered in a different light-up medium, from shadowbox paper cutouts to EL wire, by a number of artists.
KIWI DELIGHT
by Maureen Spranza
KIWI DELIGHT
by Maureen Spranza
LED lights are strung through mesh tubing and attached to painted canvases.
ANCESTOR’S GROVE
by Stephanie Anne Johnson
and Kevin E. Myrick
ANCESTOR’S GROVE
by Stephanie Anne Johnson &
Kevin E. Myrick
Three 15’ baobab “trees”. Illuminated by solar and battery operated lights. Mounted on the trunks are masks and faces. African masks are also suspended from the branches.
FIND YOUR FLOW
by flowtoys
ALICE IN THE
GARDENS
by Josette Seitz &
Color My Everything Art
ALICE IN THE GARDENS
by Josette Seitz &
Color My
Everything Art
Take a journey through the eyes of Alice in this immersive Augmented Reality experience. View art work by Color My Everything Art with special surprises within The Gardens.
www.josetteseitz.com
www.colormyeverythingart.com
A LITTLE BIT
OF WHIMSY
by Maxwell Rosendale (son) &
Jenifer Azulay (Mom)
A LITTLE BIT OF WHIMSY
Maxwell Rosendale (son) & Jenifer Azulay (Mom)
We want to bring some imagination and fantasy (faeries, gnomes, etc) and blend them with beautiful creatures already living in the gardens (butterflies, hummingbirds, etc) to create a magical world.
POLLINATOR PERSPECTIVE
by Pollinator Posse
POLLINATOR
PERSPECTIVE
by Pollinator Posse
An immersive experience stepping into the world of pollinators that brings the viewers into the world of pollinators with silk models 16 times life size.
TINKERER’S CORNER
BEE HOTELS
by Pollinator Posse
BEE HOTEL
ILLUMINATION
by Bee Garden Volunteers
A HUMAN CONNECTION
by Emily Schooley
A HUMAN CONNECTION
by Emily Schooley
A giant interactive glowing mushroom that reacts to your touch.
SECRET SOCIETY OF THE PALMS
by Sydney Parcell and Paul Savage
SECRET SOCIETY OF THE PALMS
by Sydney Parcell and Paul Savage
Three palm trees with fronds in the shape of palms, project interference patterns on the ground. Visitors are able to interact with the palms, spinning each layer, animates the interference patterns.
Artist's Instagram:
@eggney.studios and @projectsbysavage
SHELLY
THE CRAB
by Bree Hoffman
SHELLY THE CRAB
by Bree Hoffman
Shelly the Crab is a small animatronic art car that lights up from inside her conical shell. She can crawl on her legs, or drive around on her wheels.
FERDINAND
by Joe McDonald
FERDINAND
by Joe McDonald
Ferdinand is a sculpture, a sanctum, an altar, a shrine, a portal into waking dreams.
LIGHT
ORCHESTRA
by Benjamin James and Ka-Ping Yee
LIGHT ORCHESTRA
by Benjamin James and Ka-Ping Yee
Come dance in front of our 20 foot tall wall of Total Control Lighting, and be in control of all of the 1,250 full color LEDs!
WORMHOLE
by Filma Collective
WORMHOLE
by Filma Collective
A 20 foot long, 8 foot wide, 8 foot tall sound reactive tunnel that emits rainbow patterns based on what it hears.
PF3000
by Filma Collective
PF3000
by Filma Collective
At 6' high and 6' wide - The PF3000 is a wall featuring a 16x16 grid of squares about 4" each that, upon touch will change color. People can touch the squares, light them up to different colors, and create designs. Then, the PF3000 supports 'frames' meaning, people can draw multiple pictures and animate them with a really big clicky button.
PROJECT
EMPIRE
by Empire of Dirt
PROJECT EMPIRE
by Empire of Dirt
Inspired by the heyday of science fiction concept art, the cryptic history of a canceled NASA mission, and the optimism and hipness of the early 60’s Apollo Rocket Age, Project: EMPIRE (Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expeditions) is the physical creation of a mythological spacecraft and a new anachronistic style we call AEROSPACEPUNK.
CROSSED PATHS
by Mikey E
CROSSED PATHS
by Mikey E
Ultraviolet reactive paintings and tapestries, a variety of shapes and sizes.
PYRAMID
OF WHIMSY #2 Words Obscure
the Light
by Paul Epstein
PYRAMID OF WHIMSY #2 Words Obscure the Light
by Paul Epstein
Inside an illuminated, translucent pyramid, clowns play with light and shadow to make narrative, lyrical and abstract images. Eclectic music and language snippets form an ongoing sound track. Live artists perform, create visual images, and interact with the audience.
SERENITY FOR
THE SOUL
by Parks Services Gardeners
SERENITY FOR
THE SOUL
by Parks Services Gardeners
Projector lights, submersible lighted water jets in the ponds, waterfalls and trees.
LOVE TAKES FLIGHT
by Rebecca Kidder Baker
LOVE TAKES FLIGHT
by Rebecca Kidder Baker
Lighted garden butterflies lead the way to a hub of twinkling butterflies around a set of large wings with LED lights. Let your love take flight in this joyous place of beauty, freedom and transformation.
ARTIST'S EMAIL: Rebecca@Thebecca.net
FLOS ALIENA: GERMINATION
by Mike Saleski
FLOS ALIENA: GERMINATION
by Mike Saleski
Large distributed piece comprised of 30+ 20-foot tall LED spires.
MASTER GARDENERS
SHINE THE LIGHT
by Alameda County Master Gardeners
MASTER GARDENERS SHINE THE LIGHT
by Alameda County Master Gardeners
LED light sculptures highlighting Master Gardeners & garden beneficials.
LIFT
AWAY
Ellen Juhlin & Justin Oliphant
LIFT AWAY
Ellen Juhlin &
Justin Oliphant
Participants come explore fantastical worlds via an elevator and sound.
SEASONAL
LIGHTS
by Merritt College
Landscape Horticulture Dept.
SEASONAL LIGHTS
by Merritt College Landscape
Horticulture Dept.
Facebook.com/MCLandHort/
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
by Urban Farmer Store
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
by Urban Farmer Store
Urban Farmer Store employees using Landscaping Lighting Techniques
FIRELESS FIREWORKS
by Daniel Dal Corso
FIRELESS FIREWORKS
by Daniel Dal Corso
Made by a fireworks lover who doesn't want to burn anything down by accident. This 8' x 8' display has three stalks with starburst heads and an arched set of letter boxes with customizable messages for different occasions. For this occasion, the arched display reads “AUTUMN LIGHTS”.
FAIRY CIRCLE
by Ryan Rawson
POLLINATOR FASHION
by Lauren DeSteno
POLLINATOR FASHION
by Lauren DeSteno
Pollinator Fashion is a series of designs inspired by pollinators and native plants.
PLATONIC LIGHT
by Gene Feingold
ASTRO BOTANICALS SPACE GARDEN
by Stan Clark
ASTRO BOTANICALS SPACE GARDEN
by Stan Clark
Immersive garden of large inflatable, illuminated flowers
MERRITT STREET MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
by Sander van de Bor
MERRITT STREET MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
by Sander van de Bor
Mechanical butterflies with Sesame Street characters displayed on Merritt street.
SUNFLOWER
by Sander van de Bor
SUNFLOWER
by Sander van de Bor
The sculpture is a large sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine. The center of the sunflower is our planet where each country is represented by an LED. 195 strategically placed LED's can be controlled individually to create mesmerizing patterns. Having the LED's work together allows unique patterns and will result in a beautiful planet.
Day of the Dead
BARBIE AND KEN
by Brooke A. Levin
Day of the Dead
BARBIE AND KEN
by Brooke A. Levin
This installation incorporates a variety of found objects illuminated with lights.
ASSATA SHAKUR - R/EVOLUTION
IS LOVE
by MJ (Molly Jane)
ITTY BITTY
PLASTIC BITS
by Dahlia Spizman
ITTY BITTY PLASTIC BITS
by Dahlia Spizman
Artist is making a statement about plastics breaking down in the environment and the amount of damage micro plastics are having on the natural environment.
PROUD,
WE BELONG
by UPS Pride Alliance BRG
PROUD, WE BELONG
by UPS Pride Alliance BRG
UPSers navigating the harsh political landscape for the LGBTQIA community with words of hope, intention, and support, inclusion, and PRIDE.
GREENTEA.
THERAPY. - OUT IN THE GARDEN
by Jonathan Taylor
INFLORESCENCE II
by M Kathleen Kelly
INFLORESCENCE II
by M Kathleen Kelly
Video projection of flowers on the greenhouse wall.
NEONVOICES
by Mauricio Bustos
THE
ENCHANTER
by Sasha Vu
THE ENCHANTER
by Sasha Vu
The Enchanter is a 10 ft long, 4 ft wide 7 chamber infinity mirror. The piece reflects the viewer and creates the optical illusion of endless space and depth. It is a dreamy spot for photos and moments of meaning.
DOTS
by Shawn Silverman
DOTS
by Shawn Silverman
The dots trick your brain into seeing images.
WONDERLIT
by Sikstar Art
GLASS AGAVE
by Kim Webster
ISOLATION
by Phil Spitler
ISOLATION
by Phil Spitler
Isolation is an illuminated wall sculpture representing our isolation during the pandemic.
OKINAWA MELANIN
by Valentino Byrd
OKINAWA MELANIN
by Valentino Byrd
An Afro Japanese fusion that will show the beauty of two worlds intertwined in cultural harmony.
FAIRY
VILLAGE
by Fairyland
FAIRY VILLAGE
by Fairyland
This represents a miniature fairy village (reflective of the secret world held within Children’s Fairyland). It resemblea a mossy green hill that is filled with the homes (doors and windows) of Fairies/Small Folk.
FIELD OF
FLOWERS
by JOBI
FIELD OF FLOWERS
by JOBI
A set of beautiful, hand-made, 3' tall LED flowers, each individually controllable to generate awe-inspiring field-level effects from waves of color and sounds.
GLOWING
PLANES
by Gordon Matassa
GLOWING PLANES
by Gordon Matassa
Glowing exploration of geometric planes.
ARTIST'S EMAIL:
gordon.matassa@gmail.com
SYMBIOSIS
by Tree Jays
SYMBIOSIS
by Tree Jays
Using the electrical impulses within the plants themselves, we create an intentionally meditative, interactive, and immersive light and soundscape for visitors to enjoy and find peace.
NEON
ZOO
by Todd Cooper and
Camp GlowJob
NEON ZOO
by Todd Cooper and
Camp GlowJob
Neon Zoo is a collection of rare exotic beasts that light up under blacklight. Artist's Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/toddcooperstudio
T-WRECKS v3
by Todd Cooper
and Bob Krambuhl
T-WRECKS v3
by Todd Cooper
and Bob Krambuhl
A hungry T-REX is on the loose in the garden. RUN! AWAY!!
THE
AFTERLIFE
by Blitzy, Chickpea, Steve Dudek,
Pando, Noah S.
THE AFTERLIFE
by Blitzy, Chickpea, Steve Dudek,
Pando, Noah S.
The Afterlife is an ethereal and whimsical dreamland beyond our lifetime. A portal of transition between living and dead. It will be glowing with LED Dragons, Psychedelic Lanterns and The Windows of Past Life Pagoda will be lit! (first showcase of the pagoda since Burning Man 2022).
SHADOW BOX LANTERNS
by Josh Katz and the Hooligans
SHADOW BOX LANTERNS
by Josh Katz with help from the Hooligans
Serving you some hot shadows and sick sillhouettes. Carefully cleaned and restored by the Hooligans.
NOW & THEN
(TWO VIEW SLOUGH)
by Russell Yee
NOW & THEN (TWO VIEW SLOUGH)
by Russell Yee
Glowing depiction of the outlines of Lake Merritt in 1857 (original shoreline) and 2017 (current shoreline).
TRANQUIL RESONANCE
by Mark Hellar
TRANQUIL RESONANCE
by Mark Hellar
This artful installation intertwines the reflective tranquility of the lake with the resonating brilliance of carefully crafted sound reactive light display. Visitors will find themselves immersed in a harmonious atmosphere, where the interplay of light and nature creates a unique sensory experience, evoking a profound sense of calm and wonder.
HOLOSPHERE
by Michael Singletary and Gabriel Levy
HOLOSPHERE
by Michael Singletary and Gabriel Levy
The Holosphere is a spinning wheel of lights that creates a spherical display of colorful animations.
ARTIST'S EMAIL: gabelevy@gmail.com
INFINICUBE
by Michael Singletary and Gabriel Levy
INIFINICUBE
by Michael Singletary and Gabriel Levy
The Infinicube is a box with a grid of infinite LEDs that dance and expand.
ARTIST'S EMAIL: gabelevy@gmail.com
BONSAI GARDEN ILLUMINATED
by Randi, Rick, Robert & Paul
BONSAI GARDEN ILLUMINATED
by Randi, Rick, Robert & Paul
Showcasing the treasures of our bonsai garden with several amusing lighting features interspersed, this is a new way of seeing amazing bonsai.
NEON
BONSAI
by Ryan Suttle
FLORIGEN
by Matt Fisher
GOURDGEOUS GOURDS
by Keeper of the Gourd
GOURDGEOUS GOURDS
by Keeper of the Gourd
A multitude of locally-crafted, softly-lit, intricately designed luminaries will delight festival goers as they wander through the sinuous and naturally-fragrant Sensory Garden
OAKLAND IS
by Visual Arts Academy (VAAMP)
students at Oakland High School
OAKLAND IS
by Visual Arts Academy (VAAMP) students at Oakland High School
Oakland High School's VAAMP art students crafted three large illuminated "vintage postcard" pieces. Each displays a word describing their Oakland experience, with letters showcasing Oakland landmarks photographed by VAAMP students.
UPLIGHTS
by FGLM Gnomes
UPLIGHTS
by FGLM Gnomes
Assorted uplighting throughout the garden that highlight the natural beauty.
LET'S CONNECT
by Yvonne Schindler
LUMINESCENT GRAND
by William Cenoté
LIGHT BEES - DRONE LIGHT SHOW
by Pinnacle Drone Light Shows
LIGHT BEES
Low Altitude Drone Light Show by Pinnacle Drone Light Shows
Using low flying drone - Pinnacle Plans to reproduce the movement of Bees, and their flower-to-flower pollinations dance / route. The drones will be programmed to make flower and earth formations as well as various creatures.