Durham City to be transformed by a series of light-based sculptures and installations (From The Northern Echo)

Durham City to be transformed by a series of light-based sculptures and installations

8:10am Thursday 12th November 2009

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A MAGICAL event starts tonight as the spectacular Lumiere festival of light comes to the North-East.

The eyes of the art world will be on Durham City as its historic streets, bridges, waterways and gardens are transformed by a series of light-based sculptures and installations.

People are invited to enjoy a series of processions, events and awe-inspiring sights.

The jewel of the festival is expected to be Crown of Light, an ambitious and inspiring commission, which will see the pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels projected in lights 100 metres across Durham Cathedral.

In the cathedral’s cloisters, Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde will invite visitors to walk through densely-planted rows of illuminated “flowers”, in a work called Dune.

The sketches of Durham Prison inmates will be turned into huge neon-like structures for Nine Men Drawing, the faces of 100 North-East people of all ages will be projected on to the buildings in Durham Market Place in Heart of the City – A Place for the People, and French artists Quidams will lead a ghostly procession through the city streets for Herbert’s Dream.

In all, work by more than 50 artists will be on display, including seven new commissions.

Nicky Webb, director of festival organiser Artichoke, said: “Our aim was to create a real sense of the city being different for four nights – to make it a magical place. To my mind, that’s what it’s going to be.

“There are 22 different installations all around the city – some things are huge, like the Lindisfarne Gospels on the cathedral, and others that are hidden away, like a neon ladder behind a door.

“My message to the people of the North-East is: wrap up warm and come out. There’s a real sense of excitement in the city and we are really keen that as many people possible join in.”

Lumiere runs from tonight until Sunday.

Many works will be on display between 6pm and 11pm, although there are also events with specific times.

Free Lumiere guides and torches can be collected from Tesco, in Durham Market Place, or Clayport library, in Millennium Place.

More information can also be found at lumieredur ham.co.uk Culture chiefs hope Lumiere will be a major boost to Durham’s bid to be named the first UK City of Culture in 2013.

Ms Webb said: “Lumiere is bringing lots of people into Durham, from the region and across the country.

“Hopefully the pictures will go round the world and really put Durham on the map.”

Sign up to back the bid at: durhamcityofculture.co.uk