7500 candles to light up City Walk for Wintervention festival
City Walk will be lit by candlelight during Wintervention as artist Kristian Baggerson lights 7500 candles over three nights.
Wintervention is the City Renewal Authority’s winter program which features public art, theatre and live music, as well as the return of the popular ice-skating rink and curry festival.
Baggerson will place and light 2500 candles a night over three nights from July 6-8 and he is calling on the Canberra public to come and help him place them and light them on the day.
“We'll be lighting thousands of candles a night, a tea light standing in a brown paper bag, it’s very simple but when you make 2500 pieces of them, using different shapes and patterns each night it’s a beautiful thing,” he says.
“We're inviting the general public to come down on each of the days between 2pm and 5pm so they can share in making the piece, everyone can come and be a bit creative.”
Baggerson has been working in the arts industry for about15 years and for the last four has been focussing on large scale candle installations.
“There's something in our DNA that responds to the fire, whether it’s sitting around a fireplace or even a candle,” he says.
“There's so much artificial light around and the mere twinkling of a candle, multiplied by the 1000s, I'm always amazed at the effect it has on people.
“When you're around it alot you go, yeah it’s candles in bags, but when it all gets lit up and people come and see it there's an amazing response.”
Baggerson says anyone can help with the installation.
“You need no experience, come and fill a bag, and follow some basic directions as to where to put them, being a part of the making is a beautiful thing.
“Getting the public involved is really the heartbeat of the whole thing.”
City Renewal Authority chief executive Malcolm Snow said Wintervention would include a mix of old favourites and new activations.
“Ice skating, the popular Hurly Burley Winter Fair and the World Curry Festival will be back again this year, but we also have some great new events and installations to keep the city centre buzzing during winter,” Snow said.
“It can be difficult to get motivated to be out and about when the temperature dips, so our Wintervention is designed to remind people there’s plenty to do in the city centre, even when it’s cold outside.
“Plenty of cities get cold but are able to stay lively, so we want people to rethink winter in Canberra. Put on a warm coat, beanie, scarf and gloves and get out and enjoy all the city centre has to offer.”
The popular ice skating rink set up in Garema Place opens on June 29 and this year there will be an ice slide, jumping castle and Ferris wheel in place.
The curry festival is on from July 13-15 in City Walk dishing out a wide variety of curries and cultural performances as well as the traditional chilli eating competition.