21 replies to this topic

[martini]

Luminara: Let there be lights
Arts groups called in to keep Luminara lanterns glowing

Grania Litwin
Times Colonist

Thursday, July 24, 2008


Luminara Festival organizers didn't want the light-hearted event to dim or flicker this year, so to add extra lustre they had the idea of drawing in more cultural activities.

One of the new features this year is a traditional Japanese Torii gate, similar to those found at the entrance to shrines. This one has two bamboo uprights and two crossbars and is painted an electric orange-red.

"No one knows where the name Torii came from, or why they are often built at shrines, but one theory is that they were originally designed as a resting place for birds -- because birds are considered spirits," said Tsugio Kurushima of the Victoria Nikkei Society. The sculpture will be illuminated all over by tea lights and float in Arbour Lake, immediately southeast of Goodacre Lake.

"We wanted a very still piece of water because all around the gate there will also be more than 30 small, floating rice paper lanterns," he said. The miniature lights were made by members of the Nikkei Society and decorated with Japanese calligraphy, with words such as peace, hope, beauty and other famous or favourite Japanese sayings.

Kurushima said the Luminara organizers approached his society because they wanted to create an eye-catching feature installation with cultural depth.

"We thought it was a great idea because we've always been impressed with the event. We collaborated to come up with an appropriate design theme -- the Torii gate is an iconic structure that you see all through Japan -- and provided funds to support the cost." After Luminara, the gate will be stored and used again.

Japanese folk dancers will also perform near the installation, starting around 8:30 p.m., and Japanese drummers will play at St. Ann's Academy.

The community lantern celebration, which has attracted 10,000 to 15,000 people in the past, takes place at both the academy and in Beacon Hill Park, and the public is invited to make lanterns and wear costumes. Most of the entertainment is at the academy, such as fire-spinner Nick Woolsey of PlayPoi, and glow sticks and lanterns will be on sale there for people who are unprepared.

Project manager Karin Scarth said this year organizers wanted to "facilitate" the event rather than "produce" it. They did so by making alliances with community groups who choose their own content, rather than having organizers dictate it.

She said it was exciting and fun working with groups like the Nikkei Society, the Chinatown Lioness Club, Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Esquimalt High School and the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. The Victoria Community Labyrinth Society, for instance, is creating a labyrinth at St. Ann's with lighted rainbow-coloured jars placed around the sundial.

Artist Paula Jardine is creating an installation called Ghost Salmon Run featuring dozens of metre-long salmon made of wire and tissue paper, with little lanterns for youngsters. "She'll have quite a nice river there," said Scarth, on the north side of Goodacre Lake.

This is the ninth Luminara Festival and it features 17 performances at St. Ann's between 5 and 11 p.m. Entertainers include Uminari Taiko, Chikoro Marimba, the Dixieland Express, magician Paul Kilshaw, stilt walkers Mortal Coil Chix on Stix, and Mr. Erwin's Variety Act. There will also be performers in Beacon Hill Park -- including Discovery Dance, Primal Fire, Furusato Dancers -- and 21 large lantern installations.

Scarth said people are "pretty good and quite respectful" at the event, but she reminds them not to leave litter in the park. "Take all your stuff home, and don't bring pets. And please go to the info and donation booth and drop in a few loonies, to keep Luminara alight."

She also reminds visitors to bring safe lanterns and costumes. "Please, no liquid fuel. No tiki torches or Coleman lanterns." Several areas of the park will be marked as out of bounds due to dry conditions.

glitwin@tc.canwest.com
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008

[martini]

Anyone else going tonight?

[VicHockeyFan]

All that burning of lanterns is bad for the environment, so I'm skipping it.

[Caramia]

Blink!

[vandervalk]

Is it even nice in Victoria right now? (6:30pm)

It's raining and foggy here in Sooke.

[martini]

Is it even nice in Victoria right now? (6:30pm)

It's raining and foggy here in Sooke.

It's not raining, and I think we'll be ok. Definitely will be a cool night though.

[Caramia]

I'm going to bundle up, just in case!

[VicHockeyFan]

Is it even nice in Victoria right now? (6:30pm)

It's raining and foggy here in Sooke.

You are going to burn lanterns and drive in from Sooke? You must hate this planet, to want to cause it so much harm.

[martini]

Well maybe taking the bus helped offset my carbon footprint in enjoying this venue.
-----------------------------------------------------
Luminara festival lights up Beacon Hill
More than 1,000 lanterns set alight at multicultural event in Victoria

Tom McMillan
Times Colonist

Sunday, July 27, 2008


To Daiki Tanaka, Luminara is a Canadian riddle he can't crack.

The Japanese businessman toured Victoria yesterday as part of a three-week North American vacation. Standing at the entrance to Beacon Hill Park around 5 p.m., an unlit plastic lantern puzzled him tremendously.

"What is this?" he asked his wife and 11-year old daughter. "It looks homemade."

Tanaka, 45, was one of thousands who filled Beacon Hill and nearby St. Ann's Academy to see the ninth-annual Luminara Community Lantern Festival. The celebration, which usually attracts between 10,000 and 15,000 people, featured 17 live performances and more than 1,000 lanterns.

"We're really expressing our identity as a community at an event like this," said project manager Karin Scarth. "It strikes a chord in everybody's heart when something is lit in the darkness."

This year's festival was divided between two locations. A large range of performers, including magicians, stilt walkers and fire spinners, performed at St. Ann's from 5 to 11 p.m. Lanterns, glow ropes, and other products were available for purchase.

The lanterns hung from the trees, stuck into the ground or floated in the water at Beacon Hill. Running about, costumed children laughed and stared at glowing lanterns of dragons, high-heeled shoes and bears.

Organizers say the multicultural festival is adapted from centuries-old Asian and European traditions. In China, lantern festivals were traditionally held during the first full moon of the lunar calendar, believed to be the best time to see spirits fly. Similar festivals are still held in Singapore, Taipei and Pisa.

Tanaka said he had never seen a lantern festival in Japan and struggled with some of Victoria's adaptations.

"I don't understand the connection to fairies," he said as two winged children raced past.

Starch said this year's festival emphasized cultural inclusiveness, including a traditional Japanese Torii gate and displays from the Victoria First Nations Friendship Centre and other groups.

"We tried bringing to the foreground groups that many people don't think about," she said. "Festivals of light are absolutely cross-cultural."

Participants say they are drawn by Luminara's inclusiveness, along with the fun of creating glowing art. Esther Hack, 19, helped create a display featuring star lanterns, Chinese dancers and a ring of glowing Chinese food takeout boxes.

"How many events are there that pull everyone together like this?" Hack said. "It's so beautiful."

In the past, Luminara has struggled financially. This year's event had a cash budget of $150,000, and last year the festival didn't break even.

Every year, a wide range of government and corporate sponsors provide funding, but amounts vary year-to-year, Scarth said. Strong attendance is crucial because Luminara relies heavily on on-site lantern sales and donations.

Lanterns were lit around 7:30 p.m. and were scheduled to last until around midnight. Tanaka returned with his wife later in the evening, choosing a four-foot glowing white horse as his favourite display.

"It's really very beautiful," he said. "You could call this our pleasant Canadian surprise."
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008
http://www.canada.co...4f-cfe4ffcae73f

[vandervalk]

You are going to burn lanterns and drive in from Sooke? You must hate this planet, to want to cause it so much harm.

LOL... no, no, no..

I was more just asking what it was like in Victoria there because the weather was crappy out here. I've never been to Luminara in the 6 years I've lived in the CRD.

[Victoria Watcher]

Event CANCELLATION: Autumn Lantern Festival, Saturday September 17

 

 

Saanich Parks, Recreation & Community Services regrets to announce that the Autumn Lantern Festival scheduled for this Saturday, September 17 has been cancelled. We apologize, but circumstances beyond our control have affected our capacity to host this popular community event. 

To our Gordon Head community and all of the District of Saanich, we will miss the opportunity to celebrate the coming of fall with you again this year. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to future opportunities to celebrate together.

[Nparker]

...circumstances beyond our control have affected our capacity to host this popular community event...

As explanations go, this seems rather vague.

[Victoria Watcher]

Staffing maybe?   That seems to be the thing these days.

[Nparker]

Staffing maybe?   That seems to be the thing these days.

It certainly is the go-to excuse these days.

[Mike K.]

Says Mr. I Retired a Decade Early!

[Nparker]

Says Mr. I Retired a Decade Early!

Which left my previous job open for someone else who needed employment. It was a win-win situation.

[Victoria Watcher]

It certainly is the go-to excuse these days.

 

Some staff want to spend more time with their family.

[Mike K.]

Which left my previous job open for someone else who needed employment. It was a win-win situation.

What if the job is unfilled?

[Nparker]

My position was filled before my last day of work.

[Mike K.]

By the lantern festival worker who now forced the cancellation of the event.