A Luminarium highlights LUNA Fete and Greenway Supernova festvials of art and light installations and more Dec. 7-10

Architects of Air founder and designer Alan Parkinson admits to being a bit of a killjoy when he decided to take some of the bounce out of his inflatable structures. It’s not that he didn’t appreciate what kids most loved about jumping around in them. Afterall, he had assembled inflatables in his own backyard for his kids in England.

But 30 years and more than 30 massive, maze-like Luminariums later, his vision has been validated that people of all ages would also enjoy more mystical wanderings in the luminous attractions.

“One of the comments that I get most often from people coming out of the Luminarium is describing it as like being back in the womb,” Parkinson said in an interview from his home in France.

Daedalum, named after the creator of the labyrinth imprisoning the Minotaur in Greek mythology, is part of New Orleans’ LUNA Fete, the festival of art, light and technology held Dec. 7-10 outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Now in its 10th year, LUNA Fete has grown to include art and light installations, live music and DJs, an art market and the LUNA Ball, a fundraiser for Arts New Orleans, formerly known as the Arts Council of New Orleans. There also are video mapping projections and displays in downtown Gretna for LUNA West. And in a similar festival of art and light installations, there is Greenway Supernova on the Lafitte Greenway on Dec. 7-9.

Parkinson’s Luminariums are giant inflatable structures with light and color projections and features. Daedalum looks like a space-age beehive with 18 giant egg-shaped domes connected around a massive cathedral-like room.

The Luminariums are made of an opaque vinyl. They’re flexible, and though the labyrinth isn’t so big that one could get lost, it is meant to be slightly disorienting. Together with the lighting, the effect is to create a sense of wonder that’s like a return to childhood, Parkinson says.

Parkinson got his idea from a previous job in his native Britain in the 1980s. He worked with a social services program in which criminal offenders were given jobs bringing inflatables to kids in under-resourced communities and to children and adults with learning disabilities. He says really they were mostly inflatable mattresses that people jumped or lounged on, and some programs included theatrical presentations.

“I got interested in design and saw structures other people had made that involved going inside instead of bouncing off,” he says. “I was inspired to have a go at doing my own.” 

Since his original efforts, the structures have grown to a massive scale. His designs incorporate architectural inspirations from grand cathedrals and mosques. There are now five Luminariums touring the globe, with Daedalum in the U.S., one in Asia and Australia and three in Europe. After growing up with his inflatables, Parkinson’s son and daughter now help design the Luminariums.

While the manipulation of light and color in the Luminarium seems like it makes them perfect nighttime attractions, Parkinson prefers entering during daytime, because of the effects of natural light on the experience.

Daedalum is open to all ages, but children must be accompanied by adults. Shoes are not allowed inside. It’s open 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Dec. 8, and 3:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10. For more information and Luminarium tickets, visit lunafete.com.

At the Convention Center, LUNA Fete also will have several art installations, including Abram Santa Cruz’s giant Electric Dandelions and a motion-activated lit wall called Fences by Nicholas Lavella of Immerge Interactive. Anaisa Franco Studio’s interactive Expanded Iris takes an image of a person’s iris and projects it as if it were its own galaxy. There also are fashion shows of light and wearable technology by VanShawn Branch and Renee Johnson’s Afri Modiste.

LUNA Fete’s music lineup features Water Seed, IFE, Charm Taylor, Gladney, DJ Kuti, Lil Jodeci and Saint Amethyst.

In downtown Gretna, LUNA West features video mapping projections on City Hall at 740 2nd St. Video mapping allows video projections on the 3D surfaces of buildings. LUNA Fete began with several video mapping movies being projected on Gallier Hall.

Also part of LUNA West are lantern puppet parades featuring a giant turtle by Whatchamapuppet, and participants can make their own light wands in Memorial Square to carry in the procession. There also will be live music and entertainment, a holiday market and more. LUNA West is from 6 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, through Sunday, Dec. 10.

On the Lafitte Greenway Plaza off Bayou St. John, Greenway Supernova presents light and art installations, live music and art and food vendors at 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 9. Installations include Brennan Steele’s lit bubble field, a video mapping projection by Stephen Montalvo, a light and audio installation by Zachary Viet Pine and Miguel Velasquez Vasquez and more.

The music lineup features SaxKixAve, Bon Bon Vivant, Sierra Green & The Giants, Margie Perez, Tiny Dinosaur, Sweet Magnolia and more. 

For information on events, visit lunafete.com and lafittegreenway.org/supernova_2023. For more information about Daedalum, visit architects-of-air.com.