Jyväskylä: Guerrilla Lighting 2012

Place: Naissaari, Vaajakoski, Central Finland. The Guerrillas of Light have already distributed the white light bags to create a wide corridor to the main entrance of Wanha Paja, the old workshop which today houses a design store specialized in candles and home décor. Soon we hear the sound that signals the rest of the lights to be switched on and the building is bathing in carefully planned lighting. Wow! The almost full moon above is joining in the light show.

The still lights are not all we get. Three people strike a pose in front of the building and they are "painted" with light - but properly only to those serious photographers with good tripods and skills good enough to catch it all on a memory card. At least the official photographer for the City of Light, Juhana Konttinen has made sure he gets it right.

At another signal, the handheld lights pointed towards the Wanha Paja building are off again. The light guerillas pick up the white bags of light and the yard returns to the dark yard that it was before being specially illuminated for us. Our guide lifts up her light stick and leads us to a nearby bridge, to wait for the next target of Guerrilla Lighting to be lit in front of our eyes.

On a normal night, the hydropower plant of Vaajakoski is not much more than a set of illuminated windows, and a dark silhouette against the night sky. However, the Guerillas intend to show us something different. Ready, set, go!

At the signal, the red-brick hydropower plant becomes alive by the power of light. What a difference these hand-held lights can make to a scenery. The lighting designer Annukka Larsen must have planned this carefully. Red and green work so well in the darkness. Soon the lights are off again and we are to walk to our next destination. What is it and where?

We turn back and advance slowly for about 500 meters, enjoying the dark evening full of lights - if only here and there, and for a short moment only. Our target is on the other side of Vaajakoski canal lock but there is a footbridge that goes across it. The water is perfectly still inside the lock; around it, the Vaajavirta stream is running noisily.

The large crowd of spectators is moving past the canal lock, heading to the opposite shore where we are promised the best possible view of the last Guerrilla Lighting target for tonight.

 

We walk past the old hydropower plant dating back to 1920. The building, Wanha Woimala (Old Plant) is no longer in its original use but instead it houses art exhibitions or it can be rented for private parties. The building looks pretty nice already without the Guerrillas, but I suppose the large windows are not always lit in the evenings. 

We all take our positions; the Guerrillas with their lights, the cameramen and -women with their tripods and the spectators with anticipation. And for the last time this evening, the sound signals for the lights to appear, pointing towards the stream and the Wanha Woimala building. Darkness on the edge of town has turned to light that is dancing in the dark.

The Guerilla Lighting of 2012 at Jyväskylä, the City of Light, has once again made a wonderful difference to a September evening. Simply magical!

Guerrilla Lighting , Valon kaupunki 25.9.2012

Jyväskylä: Cathedral of Light

All of a sudden I notice one rainbow, or actually, two of them - the second one faint but still visible - above the church in the middle of Kirkkopuisto (Church park). As if they were trying to tell me that there is a treasure at the rainbows' end. Tonight at least this may well be true because the church will be illuminated as soon as darkness falls over the city of Jyväskylä, as part of the City of Light festival that is celebrated here on 21-30 September, 2012.

The opening ceremony speeches over, the large crowd that is gathered in the church park and on the square in front of the city hall can finally turn their eyes to the spectacle that combines light and dance. The church bells chime eight times and the dancers, dressed in white, and each of them carrying lanterns, open the doors of the church and step outside. They move in slow procession to take over the excitingly illuminated lawns. The light has arrived.

The dancers keep their lanterns as well as themselves in slow motion, dancing to the mysterious lights.

The smoke machines add to the atmosphere, as well as the fires that are lit one by one as the dance goes on. The wonderful music creates an eerie feeling. Is this really Kirkkopuisto park? Rather, this feels like a fairytale land.

The church park corridors are full of people, with crowds getting closer to the lawns as everyone with a camera realizes that this is a special moment, something to photograph. I so agree but put the lens cap on. Better focus on the show.

After the dancers have put down their lanterns and disappeared into the slowly dispersing crowds, I turn my eyes to the church. However, it is hardly recognizable; gone is the simple red brick shape and in front of me is the Cathedral of Light. It is quite a transformation; as if it was carnival time! And perhaps it is, a bit of light into the long autumn ahead. The lights in different colours are dancing their own dance in the night.

I am simply enthralled by the fantastically illuminated cathedral. Somehow it looks larger than usual! Although the dancers have left us, the music is still playing into the night, keeping up the mysterious atmosphere. The flute reminds me of Akira Kurosawa's film music. And the colours... they are like fireworks lighting up the park. Light artist and his company Valoparta Oy have really put their heart into this project.

For me, the church at Kirkkopuisto is born again. Usually, when you walk past the building, you hardly pay any attention to the brickwork but now you can't help noticing the arched or round windows or any other shapes that are now highlighted with different, changing colours.

The doors to the church are also open, exceptionally for a late Friday night. There is a short sermon going on when I enter the building, also in celebration of the Cathedral of Light, and thanks to the event, there are quite a few attendees sitting on the wooden benches.

A beautiful song fills the air. Seppo Wuolio, the curate, wishes us good night and safe journey home, on this well lit town. I linger inside the church a little while longer, staring at the blue ceiling with its golden stars, the large chandelier and the altar which shines white in the night. Simply gorgeous!

The Cathedral of Light must be the most beautiful temporary light installation in the history of the City of Light festival in Jyväskylä. The double rainbow that was pointing at the church got it right. There was a treasure at the rainbows' end. However, unfortunately the Cathedral of Light won't remain lit like this but lasts only two nights (21-22 Sep, 2012). Such a wonderful attraction for such a short time. I really hope we haven't seen the last of this light installation - how about returning next year?

As I walk across the park to the sound of music and the lights still dancing around me, the magic continues. Close to the statue of writer Minna Canth (who is gazing dreamily towards the city theatre) there is a small pond into which water is continuously flowing from three directions. However, it is a miracle pond: the centre of it is on fire!

On the other side of Vapaudenkatu street, I notice the reflections of blueish light above street level. I enter the terrace next to the foyer and enjoy the light show playing on the ceiling and the whole foyer. A private function, apparently, but they must be celebrating the City of Light. However, I'm quite happy to be an outsider tonight because the best light show was here, outside!