Only in Oakland

Lights! Families! Oakland!

Interactive light installations and family-friendly play spaces are coming to Oakland this fall – kicking off Saturday, October 16.

The first of many free, open street, immersive installations in the new Lights! Families! Oakland! series presented by Oakland Business Improvement District opens with a block party on Oakland Ave on Saturday, October 16, and runs through October 31. The premiere installation, Oscillation, comes from internationally-acclaimed artists The Urban Conga and features crystal-like forms that come alive – changing sound, pitch, and light based on how humans interact with and move around them.

Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID) is proud to present Lights! Families! Oakland!, a unique series featuring immersive light installations and free, open street, family-friendly play spaces coming to Oakland this fall.

The Lights! Family! Oakland! series kicks off with a block party premiering Oscillation by the internationally-acclaimed artists The Urban Conga. The day will be filled with games and feature live performance sfrom Ally Isabella and Noa Jordan on Oakland Avenue, Saturday, October 16, at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Oscillation is an interactive installation that uses sight, sound, and movement to encourage social interaction through play. The crystal-shaped installation mimics a theremin, an electronic musical instrument that can be played without physical contact. As visitors approach the piece, it plays different sounds and pitches.

Movement and dance elicit a color response that reflects and refracts light based on the visitor's angle and position. Oscillation is made up of five parts that are deconstructed from a solid cube using a Voronoi algorithm. Oscillation will be coupled with playground stencils, games, and outdoor dining space on Oakland Avenue, where everyone can enjoy a meal from any of the numerous neighborhood restaurants.

"Play is essential for the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth, and it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults, as well," said Cate Irvin, Manager of Placemaking and Activation at OBID. "With this in mind, OBID is working to transform our public spaces in Oakland into playspaces – where people of all ages and abilities can play, relax, and unwind."

"OBID works to ensure Oakland's place as Pennsylvania's global center and we are excited to unveil this innovative public space activation series," stated OBID Executive Director, Georgia Petropoulos. "Public space experience is a priority of our organization, so we strive to create vibrant places that positively benefit the community, and that are designed to be safe, accessible, and enjoyed by all."

Next up in November, OBID will premier Living Lights – an installation along Forbes Avenue from the corner of Craft Avenue to Halket Street at Magee-Women's Hospital at UPMC – that makes use of sound responsive lights and custom-curated patterns by local artist ProjectileObjects. The installation will change from month-to-month with illuminated displays that evolve all winter long from late November through March 2022.

Lights! Families! Oakland! is made possible through the generous support of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh.

Resources:

In the News

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Lights! Families! Oakland!

Oakland Business Improvement District in partnership with UPMC and University of Pittsburgh presents Lights! Families! Oakland! Enjoy immersive light installations, open streets, and family-friendly play spaces in Oakland.  

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Featured image for the Lights! Families! Oakland! page

Oscillation at Oakland Avenue

Giant crystals that come alive through movement. Oscillation is an interactive installation that uses sight, sound, and movement to spark community activity and social interaction through play. Free and open to all. 

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Featured image for the Oscillation at Oakland Avenue page

Living Lights at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

As part of Lights! Families! Oakland!, OBID and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, present the “Living Lights” installation along Forbes Avenue from the corner of Craft Ave to Halket Street. It will make use of sound responsive lights and custom curated patterns by local artist ProjectileObjects, so keep an eye out for the illuminated display from the end of December until March 2022.

Learn More
Trees with lights in Oakland Pittsburgh in the evening