Lumonics Immersed
A Multi-Sensory Experience to Refresh your Body, Mind, and Spirit
Inspired by the Founders of Lumonics: Dorothy & Mel Tanner *
Saturday,Oct. 9, 2021
8pm to 10pm
$20 advance tickets only
"Learn the true meaning of Lumonics when the temple of light art by the late Dorothy and Mel Tanner throws a special immersive evening combining art with special effects, and original music and video by Dorothy Tanner and longtime collaborator Mark Billard. An audiovisual mantra meant to soothe the mind and expand awareness, this drug-free trip through Lumonics is unforgettable."
- Denver Westword
"If the idea of sitting in a space looking at light and color is what attracted you to immersive van Gogh, we have a local alternative for you."
- Maggie Donahue, Denverite
"Great artists aren’t exactly well known for staying in the same place for long. That certainly was the case for Dorothy and Mel Tanner, the former of whom had a background in sculpture and the latter was an abstract painter. But they were introduced to acrylic glass (Plexiglas) and began building geometric shapes, which lead to creating lighted water fountains and more elaborate abstract sculptures in 1966.
"And so Lumonics, one of the longest-running light art projects in the country, was born. Since their first light and sound experience in Miami in 1969 combined light sculptures, lasers, special effects and original music and video elements, the Tanners and their gallery have continued to experiment and grow."
“Mel had a mystical experience in the summer of 1969, right around the first landing on the moon, and he wanted the artwork to be more experiential,” said Barry Raphael, Lumonics co-archivist and team member. “The Tanners converted their warehouse art studio into a light and sound theater and created site-specific art for it.”
The mezzanine became a projection booth where the Tanners created hundreds of hand-painted slides that were projected on a large wall in addition to live painting and overhead projectors. They connected all the artworks to a color organ so that they could control the light sculptures to music during the performances.
Mel died in 1993 and Dorothy in 2020, but the intention of remaining members Marc Billard, Barbara Billard and Raphael is to honor their legacy. Something they’ll be doing with their new multi-sensory experience, Lumonics Immersed., a show designed to 'refresh your body, mind and spirit' as well as a tribute to the Tanners. The aim is to do something similar monthly, but each experience will be a unique one.
“Marc worked very closely with each of the Tanners in assembling the light sculptures, and also helped with the technical aspects of the light and sound performances,” Raphael said. “We can’t duplicate the original live performances because of space limitations and the Tanners are no longer here, but we do create the vibe and the spirit."
Lumonics came to the metro area in 2008 and have done a range of exhibits. They’ll even be a part of Meow Wolf when it opens in September. And even though the Tanners are gone, the gallery remains a vibrant and creative place."
- Clarke Reader, Colorado Community Media:
Special performances can be arranged for private groups.
For more information, call 303.568.9406 or email:[email protected]
* Mel Tanner (1925-1993) passed before Lumonics moved to Denver in 2008.
** Dorothy Tanner (1923-2020) received the 2018 Denver Mayor’s Award for Innovation in the Arts at the age of 95.
www.lumonics.net/immersed
We ask everyone attending to be fully vaccinated, and masks are optional.
