Prismatica

This fall, Sparks Street will light up with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours, making your walk on the pedestrian street a magical wonderland. The art and light installation, Prismatica, will be reflecting all the colours in the visible spectrum, enchanting passersby, and daring you not to capture their brilliant beauty on film/phone.

The exhibit is comprised of 25 pivoting prisms over six feet tall which light up from their bases, projecting an array of colours to the chimes of bells. You will have to visit Prismatica twice to see how they catch and play with the light during the day and when they really reach their nocturnal crescendo. The landscape will be a photographer’s dream and no Instagrammer within city limits will be able to resist 😉.

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Prismatica, Sparks Street BIA

“Each panel of every prism is laminated with a dichronic film,” explains Pierre-Alexandre Le Lay of RAW Design, the Toronto-based firm behind Prismatica. “That means each surface reflects different colours depending on the angle of the light source and the viewing angle. During the day, the prisms reflect natural light. After dark, they’re illuminated from within, creating a more pronounced directional effect.” Mr. Le Lay conveys, “The goal is to present a new way of seeing the city…”

Prismatica first debuted in Montréal at the 2014-2015 edition of Luminothérapie. You may have had a chance to visit it in December 2016 when it was presented on Parliament Hill here in Ottawa for Christmas Lights Across Canada. Or maybe you’ve seen these famous prisms in the movie John Wick: Chapter 2 where it made a brief big screen appearance.

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Prismatica, Sparks Street BIA John Wick 2 comicvine gamespot, CBS Interactive Inc.

You can visit Prismatica from September 25 - October 25, 2020 on Sparks Street. You can choose to walk through the prisms or interact with them - there are 3 hand washing stations available with signage. COVID-19 health & safety guidelines are in place.

The fall fresh air calls - take a walk and wander through the wonder of lights, colours and sounds of Prismatica on Sparks Street.

Prismatica, Sparks Street BIA

Work Credits:

Conception and execution: RAW Design

in collaboration with ATOMIC3

Lighting design: ATOMIC3 and Jean-François Piché

Sound: Patrick Watson

Production and technical direction: ATOMIC3 +

Louis Héon

Production: Quartier des Spectacles Partnership

(Montréal, Canada)

Tour Producer: CREOS