Thérèse Lahaie

Crossing Signal Mosaic

Crossing Signal Mosaic: Recipient of LuciteLux® 2015 Just Imagine Awards
A light sculpture installation in Emeryville is the winner of the third annual LuciteLux® JUST IMAGINE Awards. Part of the City of Emeryville Art in Public Places Program, “Crossing Signal Mosaic” by artist Therese Lahaie integrates LuciteLux® along with programmed LED technology.

Lahaie completed the project in 2015 at Parc on Powell Apartments. In a competitive housing market, developer Equity Residential wanted a dynamic work of art that would infuse life into its building and attract young renters. The City of Emeryville Art in Public Places Committee sought an installation that would combine art and technology to reflect a focus on neighboring businesses and companies. In “Crossing Signal Mosaic,” each request was met with a light-based installation.

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Crossing Signal Mosaic: Cross Sections

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Crossing Signal Mosaic: Content Development
My photographic and video research took place at different times of day and night. The most compelling images involved the saturated colors and the rhythms of the pedestrian crossing signals during nighttime hours. The luminous colors reminded me of the stained glass windows at my college chapel and the solace I felt with the transmitted light through glass.

In this video sampling, a  mosaic of crossing signals is slowed down 60% to relax the urgency of crossing safely and increase the enjoyment of the shifting play of color and light. The video was part of my research for Crossing Signal Mosaic as part of the Art in Public Places Commission in Emeryville, CA.