White Night set to spark wonder

BALLARAT’S third White Night extravaganza is set to wow with nearly 70 performances on Saturday.

The light festival will cover more ground than previous years and includes four international artists’ works.

“Ballarat was always a unique opportunity because of the landscape, because of the street’s boulevard style, which is perfect for these types of events. The architecture is a beautiful focal point too,” said Artistic Director or White Night, David Atkins.

For the first White Night in Ballarat, back in 2017, covered just two streets and only included local artists.

This year, Mr Atkins wanted to make it more of a spectacle.

“We start out with a basic thematic approach, this year being the spark, the idea of inspired by and may burst into flame, a beginning of an idea,” he said.

He cites Robin Williams saying, “You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it,” as part of this inspiration.

“I curated Ballarat in a particular way and I have expanded the breadth of the works this year and added in more performance art aspects. It won’t be just installations,” he said.

The last two years have been “extraordinary” and helpful for tourism income.

“I think as the city continues to have major events, it will draw in major crowd of people too. It definitely has a history that continues to develop and be nurtured.”

Being his last White Night as Artistic Director, Mr Atkins said he went “all out” and that the curatorial team is “more than excited for it”.

White Night will run from 7pm this Saturday, 21 September until 2am on Sunday.

Visit whitenight.com.au/ballarat for a full program of what’s happening.

Five things to not miss at White Night

Iris

This installation by Czech Republic artists 3dsense at Civic Hall auditorium combines medical microscope scans of eyeballs on a screen and the reflection of the projection onto a pool in front of it.

The Guardian

A roving 10m long lion-like puppet by A Blanck Canvas, controlled by seven puppeteers, combines light, smoke, and sound to seem it is straight out of a dream.

Rosskovic and Sandini’s Awkward Wooden Theatre

Cameron Ross and Ben Sanders created a ten-minute unique and quirky marionette show suitable for audiences of all ages to enjoy. It runs every half an hour at the Trades Hall.

Heliosphere

UK-based The Dream Engine bring forth a giant illuminated sphere with a suspended acrobat performing below, occasionally interacting with people on the ground.

Deadly Questions

This artistic projection on the façade of the Old Bank of NSW building by DAE White Night and Marlene Gilson explores questions people have asked to Victorian Aboriginal people and displays Ms Gilson’s works to compliment it.