igNIGHT Logo, web image
FORT McMURRAY, AB — The biennial igNIGHT outdoor art and light exhibit goes live tonight, October 1, at kiyām Community Park with this year’s theme, Into the Unknown.
The free public art exhibition runs nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. through Oct. 5, transforming the downtown park into a glowing landscape of interactive artwork, live performances and family activities.
“Into the Unknown celebrates human connection and imagination through playful light-based installations by artists from around the globe,” said Jayda McMillan, chair of the Municipal Public Art Committee. “This year’s edition is sure to spark curiosity, inspire laughter and bring a touch of magic to kiyām Community Park.”
One of the centrepieces is The Parallax Way Finder, a premiere work by two-spirit Anishinaabe artist Brandon Tyson of Wikwemikoong First Nation, in collaboration with David Harrison. Their piece merges Indigenous craftsmanship with cutting-edge LED and sensor technology, creating an environment that shifts and glows in response to the movement of visitors.
Another returning team, Calgary-based B!G ART, brings The ARRAY and The Starquarium. The ARRAY immerses guests in mirrored panels that react to motion, while the Starquarium playfully imagines an intergalactic aquarium where visitors “unlock” mysterious cosmic specimens through interactive consoles.
Swedish artist Johan Fredrik Källman will showcase Luxtriplicata, a hands-on installation that uses prisms and light to create dazzling rainbows as participants spin and tilt the structure. And Dutch duo AlexP will debut MAPP, a stroller-mounted projection system that maps colourful light patterns onto buildings, walls and even participants themselves.
Local artists are also in the spotlight with Into the Unknown, a collaborative installation by Fort McMurray’s LMW Art, Caius Hubris, and Edmonton’s Karlie and Kevin Christie. Their work invites visitors into a sci-fi-inspired world where light, sound and imagination collide.
Performances and activities add to the atmosphere, including nightly fire dancing by Dream Dance Circus, a Friday silent disco, a Saturday dance party with DJ Carlito, and Sunday storytelling under the Starquarium. Families can also enjoy crafts, face painting and glow gear at the activity tent.
igNIGHT, curated by the Public Art Committee, has become a signature Fort McMurray event since its debut in 2013, drawing thousands of visitors to explore large-scale light art and interactive installations.
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