A massive, full-color, four-story “immersive animation display” will light up the Modernist façade of the Science Library at University of Albany for four evenings starting March 28, when the New York State Writers Institute is due to hold its inaugural Albany Film Festival.
Marking the first-ever projection mapping produced in Albany, the 195-foot wide, 45-foot high narrative light show is being launched by the institute in conjunction with the Colonie film company MagicWig Productions and “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation” composer Joe Kraemer, an Albany native.
The free extravaganzas, starting at dusk each night, will “be viewable from great distances” and “feature spectacular 3D animation and a compelling narrative that celebrates the unique cultural history of the Capital Region and Albany’s contribution to film and literary history,” according to a Writers Institute news release.
Regional arts philanthropists Karen and Chet Opalka donated a $75,000 challenge grant to jump start the project after seeing similarly colorful, large-scale display on a visit to France. In a statement, Chet Opalka said he and his wife “were blown away by a projection mapping light show we viewed on the Gothic facade of the Rouen Cathedral. . . . We said wouldn’t it be awesome if we could do something like that in Albany?”
Combining computer-mapping software with cutting-edge projectors, projection mapping displays have illuminated the walls of the Sydney Opera House, Macy’s Department Store, Buckingham Palace and – closer to home – Binghamton, where the annual LUMA Festival projects towering animations onto downtown Binghamton.
ource: Immersive ‘projection mapping’ light show to illuminate UAlbany – Times Union