Meditation meets acid trip in ‘Lumonics Immersed’

The trippy projection, light and sound show is back up and running again in Denver for an extended run

Nestled in a warehouse in Denver is one of the most unique artistic experiences I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.

By day, the building is home to the Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery — a space that serves as a permanent art installation for the futuristic light sculpture of artists Dorothy and Mel Tanner. But on Saturdays, the gallery hosts Lumonics Immersed, a mesmerizing and immersive theatrical piece that’s designed to honor the memory of the Tanners.

This exciting series of live performances at the Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery feels like the cross between a yoga retreat and an acid trip. As you enter the building, visitors are greeted by Barry Raphael, the administrator of the Lumonics School of Light Art, publicist and co-archivist for Lumonics and a co-producer of Lumonics Immersed.

Raphael is a jovial administrator who greets visitors with a smile and welcomes folks to the space. He explains that the gallery is filled with Lumonics –light sculptures — and the subject of the immersive performances the Tanners developed.  Before entering the performance area, attendees are invited to browse the artwork in the studio’s lobby

For those interested in learning more about the Tanners or the artwork, Raphael is an incredibly knowledgeable individual who has been working with Lumonics since 1972 and has made it his mission to preserve the history of their work. The organization’s website is packed with biographical information about the artists, archives of their previous exhibitions, galleries and a myriad of photos featuring the Tanners’ incredible art pieces.

As I roamed the lobby, I marveled at the art installations hung on the wall and nestled in corners. The variety of plexiglass sculptures designed by the Tanners was immediately striking; some are free-standing and feel almost crystal-like while others feature pops of lights and colors illuminated in unusually shaped arrangements. Each fixture transports audiences into the artist’s unique understanding of our reality.

In a smaller room, there are more pieces of art as well as a recording of Mel and Dorothy Tanner explaining how they began combining light, sound and sculptures in 1969 to help raise people’s consciousness. As Dorothy says in the final moments of the recording: “What really keeps us going is the fact that it’s not just doing art; it’s looking to combine the light art that we do and music to bring people to a better, healing place.”

After roaming the lobby, Raphael invited all attendees inside the main gallery to relax in chairs and couches. This room contains larger sculptures that surround audience members, and the chairs are facing toward a projection screen that hangs from the ceiling with trippy graphics. A silver barrier sits underneath the screen and makes you feel as though you’ve just entered a portal to another dimension.

Raphael and his team provided some light refreshments and handed out glowsticks before he spoke to the audience about the artists and the experience itself. He explained that everything happening is being orchestrated live backstage by Marc Billard — and that it will never be repeated. This is a singular multi-sensory experience designed to stimulate our minds and energize our imaginations.

Then, the lights dim, and the experience begins. First, there is only darkness and the slow hum of music. But slowly, the sculptures begin to twinkle. Each sculpture is illuminated with lights that are individually controlled by Billard and timed to the music. When the organization first performed these shows back in the 1970s, the music was played on a live synthesizer; however, it has since evolved into samples of the Tanners’ compositions overlaid with psychedelic video projections created in Adobe After Effects.

The piece lasts about 90 minutes and takes you on a trip through a variety of moods, sensations and vibrations. While the experience occasionally features recordings of Dorothy singing, most of the experience is instrumental, allowing the focus to remain on the hypnotic nature of the projections and sculptures. There’s no story or message for spectators to follow; instead, the piece concentrates on creating a meditative environment for individuals to relax in.

In the peaceful atmosphere, time loses its meaning. For people who have never seen the Tanners’ enchanting art sculptures, Lumonics Immersed is a fantastic way to experience their work as their plexiglass fixtures seem to come to life during lively musical moments and twinkling light displays. It was an enriching artistic experience that the whole family can attend on Saturday nights. Though the piece only has shows slated through December, Raphael hopes to carry on the event at the space for as long as there is interest.

The Tanners may no longer be with us, but Lumonics Immersed ensures that their light continues to shine and allows their art to inspire the next generation of adventurous creatives.