Project Type
Architainment/Immersive Experience. A living, permanent architectural light installation by LGBTQ+ artist collective Rainbow Serpent Co-Founders Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd.
Project Name
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
"Give Light to the Whole Circumference" is a living, permanent architectural light installation by LGBTQ+ artist collective Rainbow Serpent Co-Founders Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd, created for the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh, PA. SPRK was proud to provide technical design, procurement, creative programming, and systems support for this beautiful new facade lighting installation at the Center.
Design Criteria
This installation is unique in that SPRK takes a support role for the artists of Rainbow Serpent and their vision. The title ("Give Light to the Whole Circumference") comes from an ancient Egyptian funerary text collected in the Book of the Dead, in which the rising solar deity is praised as one who "givest light to the whole circumference which the Solar Orb enlighteneth." The passage imagines light as a life-giving force that moves outward across the world - awakening people, illuminating communities, and joining earthly and celestial realms.
Drawing together Kemetic funerary texts, August Wilson's dramatic universe, and contemporary programmable architectural lighting, Give Light to the Whole Circumference transforms the Center's iconic sail into a living vessel of memory, ritual, celebration, and spiritual passage. Conceived as an evolving installation rather than a single fixed light show, the work allows the building to continually assume new forms through light.
Project Description
For this project, SPRK was charged with technical design, procurement, installation oversight, and creative programming for the August Wilson African American Cultural Center while keeping the broader artistic goals of Rainbow Serpent front and center. This was not just lighting a building - it was creating an artistic installation using art.
Challenges and Solutions
SPRK's biggest challenge was balancing existing power availability with the grand display of vibrancy required for Rainbow Serpent's artistic vision to have the creative impact their installation deserves.
Photo credit: Joey Kennedy/August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Equipment
Color Kinetics Vaya Tube
Light Fixtures
Pharos Controls LPC 4
Designer Lighting Playback Controller
Team
List the key members of the creative team, technicians, vendors, manufacturers and other significant staff.
Rainbow Serpent - Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd
Executive Producers, Artistic Vision and Project Management
SPRK Lighting - Dan Pagan
Technical Systems and Installation Oversight
SPRK Lighting - Ryan Gravilla
Creative Programming, Artistic Translation
SPRK Lighting - Ryan Gottlieb
Technical Direction/Project Management (SPRK)
SPRK Lighting - Carson Childers
Procurement
SESCO Lighting - Kyle Ledford
Equipment - Color Kinetics Vaya Tube