02/27/2021
CHAOS Art Collective and Chinatown Merchants Association Announce Cutting-Edge Artistic Lighting Projection on the Trade Mark Building
Historic Chinatown landmark to be bedazzled and illuminated with color and dynamic imagery for the Lantern Festival – February 27, 2021, 6-9 PM
San Francisco, February 10, 2021 — CHAOS, a San Francisco art collective created by game developers, working in partnership with the Chinatown Merchants Association and the local community, presents a custom-designed visual display on the iconic Trade Mark Building on February 27, at the outset of the annual Lantern Festival. A one-night event, the projected artwork plans to enchant all with its fantastic splendor and enhance the local neighborhood's magic and history.
"Chinatown is the heart of San Francisco, and now more than ever, it must be preserved and appreciated! We're excited to facilitate the collaboration of world-renowned creative studios with local artists to celebrate our unique community with a first-of-its-kind visual experience, to highlight the strength of this storied neighborhood and herald its future," said Vanesa O'Hanlon, Creative Director at CHAOS, fine artist and Chinatown resident. As the City's small business community is severely challenged, a goal of the event is to drive excitement and safely attract business to the historic neighborhood.
Large-Scale Projection Mapping
The CHAOS art collective is working with the Chinatown Merchants Association, a foundation dedicated to developing the neighborhood's small businesses and organizer of the SF Chinatown Walkway Weekends, to create this unique San Francisco artwork and memorable evening.
The art renderings and animations displayed on the Trade Mark building at Grant Avenue and California Street are designed to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 26. They will be mapped to a digital twin of the building's south and eastern sides. The visual content, created in collaboration with local artist Vida Kuang and international studios Mindscape, will employ high-powered projectors by Immersive to bathe the building in abstract shapes, colors, and images representing and celebrating the traditional Chinese holiday in unison with the building's contours and architectural features. The projections will be featured in 5-minute loops between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
"We feel honored to work with such an amazing building in one of the most iconic neighborhoods in San Francisco," said Marty Caplan, Executive Producer of Amber, the sponsor. "Creating monumental work like this projection, which combines bleeding-edge technical wizardry, a visual design mapped to the architectural features of this historic building, and a traditional celebration to help bring folks to Chinatown is a great way to demonstrate Amber's commitment to supporting public art."
Community Event
Leading up to the projection event on February 27 after sundown, the Chinatown Streets will be closed to cars and open for visitors during the neighborhood’s Walkway Weekend, a program of the City of San Francisco. All will be welcome to enjoy traditional festival food, novelties, and shops of this iconic neighborhood on Grant Avenue between California to Washington streets. The Lantern Festival traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year period, a time for celebrating with family and friends the arrival of Spring’s first full moon.
“We are excited about this first-ever light show, which will add a whole new feel and dimension to Chinatown, one of the most historic neighborhoods in San Francisco,” said Betty Louie and Eva Lee of the Chinatown Merchants Association.
The San Francisco Chinatown Merchants Association (SFCMA) is an independent community organization founded in 1991 dedicated to revitalizing commerce and tourism in one of America's most unique historic neighborhoods and one of San Francisco's top visitor attractions: Chinatown.
Website: www.sfchinatownmerchants.org, Instagram: , Facebook: SFCMA/San Francisco Chinatown
CHAOS creates positive impact through technology and arts by leveraging San Francisco's game development ecosystem. CHAOS is an ethical technology program, seeking to enrich the life of our communities through urban placement of artworks that blend game technology with fine arts. CHAOS is a sponsored 503c1 nonprofit via Independent Arts and Media. Website: www.ChaosMade.org
Amber is a game development agency located in Foster City, Los Angeles, Bucharest, Botosani, Guadalajara, and Montreal. The agency delivers a reference solution for creative work in interactive entertainment. Website: www.AmberStudio.com
