Client: Goggleworks Center for the Arts

Overview

This project was begun as an idea that to use light to identify the former safety goggle factory as the GoggleWorks Art Center it had been renovated into. Also being an historic landmark building meant that we could not attach anything to the facade so the art had to be showcased through the windows in a way that expressed the ever changing artistic energy within the otherwise nondescript industrial site. The five story building occupies an entire city block, and light travels the entire length and height with 7100 programmable LEDs continuously “drawing” across the facade.

Goals

Being an Art Center in a formerly neglected area of Reading's downtown area, the need to integrate a visual connection to the creativity taking place inside this former manufacturing site was critical. Lyn Godley quickly envisioned using light to "draw" across the facade in changing patterns and colors.

Process

The GoggleWorks’ “Thought Process” proposal and installation was a major collaboration between lighting designer Lyn Godley, the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, ”Our City Reading”, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, and Kutztown University. Working with Colorkinetics technology, Godley designed, programmed and oversaw the installation of the artwork. Designed originally as a canvas to teach from, the programmable lights can be used to design new light shows as a means of expressing the creativity that takes place behind the warehouse’s facade. Godley addressed each of the 7100 LEDs and designed the light shows, then worked with Kutztown University students mapping them out on the windows across the facade. Installation of the lights and hardware was done by the local IBEW.