GLOW 2013

We managed to see GLOW before it wrapped up on the 16th... some how schedules aligned and the weather fairly cooperated!  We were able to make it an extra special night by teaming up with friends & their kids and getting dinner reservations at the local soccer stadium.  What does soccer and GLOW have to do with each other?  Well, this year one of the light shows was presented at the PSV stadium, and because we ate there we were allowed to use special seats, avoiding the crowds, getting a private view, and we could watch the show repeatedly (the kids did)!  And we also fulfilled our daughters wish of visiting the inside of the stadium (the points are rolling in).
Besides the large soccer themed light show at the stadium, we were able to hit up 5 other displays before the kids collapsed.  The way the event route was set up this year not so many displays were located within child walking distance of our apartment.  So in order to see the group favorite at the end of the night we all hoped in my husbands SUV and drove to where the dragon/sea monster was situated.  There were quite a few attractions we would have liked to have seen but between the weather, distance, and hour, we had to end the night.  Needless to say the dinner and VIP show at the stadium pleased everyone enough it didn't matter.  As always I have pics for you, please excuse the quality, this year I only had my phone on me.  And don't forget to check out last year's post also (GLOW 2012).

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

GLOW Eindhoven

For those of you living in or around the Eindhoven area, GLOW is back!!!  GLOW is a huge event that combines light & art, there are displays throughout the center of town.  Displays range from actual pieces you can interact with to projections on towering buildings.  If you can find time to visit, GLOW runs November 9th-16th from 6:30PM-11PM.
 

We made out first attempt to visit on opening night with our family.  Our big mistake was arriving 45min early!  It was pouring with rain, we had 3 kids ranging from 4-12 yrs old with us, and it was freezing.  Some of the displays were delayed because of the rain and we just couldn't bare the weather conditions any longer and headed back home.  Luckily we have the rest of the week to get back out after sunset to take in the spectacular views.
 

Last year we participated in GLOW off. which was a fun way of unofficially joining in the event.  We projected a film of our silhouettes on the window of our apartment (center of town) and voilá, we had our on display.  And apparently this year our film has made it to GLOW off. again, and can be viewed at the Cultureel Buurtcentrum on Oranjestraat (not part of the official route, but close by)!
 

Once I actually get to the route & our entry, I'll be sure to snap a lot of pics and post them back here for you to enjoy!

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

GLOW off.

Besides the official GLOW taking place in Eindhoven, there was the unofficial GLOW off.  This is where amateurs make their own venues and display them during the last day of GLOW.  Us and some friends decided we wanted to make our own film so that we too could participate.  One weekend we set up a make shift studio in a friends backyard.  This including white sheets hung between ladders for a backdrop... an iPhone for filming... a few props inc. a wind machine... and a computer program to turn our images into silhouettes.  Again I'll reiterate we're amateurs.  Living downtown gave us the prime location to display what we created.  So after an afternoon of filming and some 10 odd hours of editing on the computer (thanks Mike) we had a short film to air.  To be honest, I expected loads of people standing outside of our apartment watching the film we were airing on to our front window.  But we only had a few passerby's.  Sure the larger light displays in town were nice, but we were easily comparable to the smaller ones.  Needless to say we had fun and made a night of it!  Unfortunately I didn't get the best photos but I do have the movie for you!  The film could have used a bit more tweaking but we had already put enough time into the one night project.  The photo I included above gives you an idea of what the movie looked like displayed on our window.  The funniest part of the entire night was when the neighbors above us couldn't figure out why there were people outside taking pictures and pointing... maybe we should have warned them, oops!

 

GLOW

Living in a large city definitely has its perks, as in there is always something interesting taking place.  Right now Eindhoven is hosting GLOW.  It's an incredible display of art projected around the city onto a variety of buildings.  Besides just light shows, there are also many odes to artificial light and its capabilities.  GLOW brings people from all over... once the sun sets hordes of people wander around the city gazing up at the displays. 

 

It's also a great opportunity for photographers, so besides crowds oohing and awing, there are also tons of people running around with cameras and tripods.  Since we live in the center it would be pure lazy if we didn't step out our door and participate.  One evening after dinner I realized my husband would be late and there was still around an hour before my daughters bedtime, so we bundled up and headed into the crowds.  At first my daughter was impressed with the street lights, she's not often out after dark.  But when we actually neared the displays she was overly impressed.

Some of the displays combine poetry & lights, some music & lights, and others, just art & lights, each one interesting in it's own aspect.  We saw around 7 displays and my favorite this year has to be the garden of lights on the Wilhelminaplein.  My daughters favorite has to be the display on the cathedral, she told her dad all about the people dancing on the building (what she didn't realize was that it was a conductor and parts of an orchestra, but I will not burst her bubble).
 

Sometimes the displays are too artsy for me, I remember last year watching one (a combo of poetry and light) waiting for something to happen but that was it... someone reading text to dramatic music as it flashed by on a wall.  This year they also displayed and read text, but the words were projected over a huge building giving it more of an affect.  If you're in the Eindhoven area, I recommend joining in the fun.  It's free, it's interesting, why not take advantage of it.  GLOW runs from November 10th-17th.  I didn't get the best photos, I was using our small camera at night, but I wasn't there for the pictures anyway.