On November 25, NorthPark Center will add another feather to its public art cap with Scattered Light, an installation of 1,500 suspended LED bulbs from pioneering new media artist Jim Campbell. The work fits the mall’s “Season of Light” holiday theme and will remain on view in the CenterPark Garden through spring 2015.
Scattered Light’s LEDs, encased in conventional light bulbs, seem to flicker randomly, but they are programmed by the artist to evoke the shadows of figures walking across the curtains of suspended bulbs. It was originally commissioned for Madison Square Garden in New York City and was most recently on view at Edinburgh Place, City University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong.
The installation’s placement in the garden gives viewers an opportunity to enjoy it without distraction. As the artist noted in a release, “Light is a meta-thing. There’s something magical about working with it; people have almost a meditative response.”
“We are committed to continuing our role in enhancing the cultural vibrancy of Dallas, and believe our ongoing public art program at NorthPark is a unique contribution in this regard,” added NorthPark co-owner Nancy A. Nasher. “Jim Campbell’s incredible installation of light, electronics and ingenuity is nothing short of awe-inspiring, and we are certain it will capture the amazement of art enthusiasts of all ages.”
Campbell’s inventive fusion of science and art is recognized worldwide. His work has been exhibited internationally and throughout North America, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; International Center for Photography, New York; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia.
Jim Campbell's Scattered Light comprises 1,500 LED bulbs encased in traditional bulbs.
