I hope you all have enjoyed the first part of this interview. Here is the last half of the inteview with Lumonics. They are a great art gallery focusing on light sculputures. Works from this establishment have been show cased in museums. They have been out in Colorado for about a year and they need a warm welcome. Enjoy the work and please take some time to go and check out their space for their own. Thank you, take care, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
 

Barry, how did you wind up meeting the owners of Lumonics? (Dorothy & Mel)
I was a schoolteacher in Chicago, and after traveling in Europe and the U.S., I was looking for an alternative to the conventional life in which I was raised. When a friend told me about the Tanners and their Theatre in Miami, it peaked my interest. When he brought them to Chicago for a visit, they were the coolest people I ever met. So I visited Lumonics in Miami, and it was such a momentous experience for me that I asked if I be part of the project, and help support it. That was in 1972.

What kinds of services do you offer besides artistic lighting?
We design spaces at affordable prices for people attracted to what a Lumonics environment can provide. Even one or two light sculptures in a meditation or music room will enhance a space. There has been a lot of research over the years about the benefits of color and light in reducing stress and enhancing creativity. Work can also be commissioned. Over the years we have done art installations for nightclubs (lighted floors, walls, and ceilings) and for hotel lobbies and restaurants (indoor water fountains). We also host private events for fun-raising and fund-raising.
 

Where does the company see itself in ten years?
That is the question, Matt. The "company" is really people, and how we grow individually and collectively will help determine where we will be. Things are changing so fast...the internet, social networking sites altering how we relate to each other, and being able to communicate with people all over the world. The development of energy efficient LED lighting has transformed how we light the sculptures now, and we look forward to new technology. Then there are the factors like the environment...some of the scenarios of life in the future can be very disturbing unless we have a change in consciousness. All of us at Lumonics feel that by having adopted a vegan diet, it makes a statement that we no longer want to participate in the killing of animals raised in the cruel factory farming system, and all the devastating environmental effects that it creates.

How often does Lumonics offer community events such as the dances?
We are planning a new schedule and extended hours for 2010. We expect to be open most Saturdays and some Fridays. We have been fortunate to meet some great people to collaborate with. And we really appreciate the people that we meet not only at the gatherings at Lumonics but other gatherings that we attend. We feel it is important to offer the events so people can come together in an intimate space. I know for myself that it is often easier to just stay home, but making the effort to go out for new adventures and meet new people has really enriched my life and initiated some great friendships.
We have also been hosting The Red Door events on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The Red Door is an experiment in building spiritual family without the directives of an organized religion. People can visit our site at www.lumonics.net for updates on all the gatherings.

How would you describe the experience at Lumonics to people who have not been there yet?
It is a multi-sensory space that will engage you...light sculptures, music, video, performance art. You come away feeling both relaxed and energized. I have always been fascinated by the expression of people once they enter the space. For some it can be a bit intimidating...shock of the new. For others, it feels like coming home. People are in search of new forms of expression, and that is why they are attracted here.

What is an evening at Lumonics like with the dancing and the DJs?
The format varies and the evenings continue to evolve. The Inlakesh monthly also has involved movie screenings and some great music circles in which everyone can participate. Our friend Sienna has a fabulous collection of percussion instruments that are available on event nights. She also plays the singing bowls in one of the Gallery rooms. We want to continue to bring in innovative performers and poets, and engage people in ways that activate the mind, body, and the emotions.

If one attends one of the Lumonics events what do you hope people gain from the experience?
Hopefully they feel that this is a safe space to experience themselves and others...that the artwork will stimulate and trigger something inside...perhaps remind them to pursue something they love to do.

How many people are part of Lumonics?
Dorothy Tanner, Marc Billard, Barbara Ungar, Ritch Mosias and I, Barry Raphael. We all live and work communally. Mel Tanner passed away in 1993, which was a tremendous loss for us and everyone that he touched with his art. But we are fortunate to still have his art with us...and his spirit.

What has been the biggest challenge of moving your studio out to Colorado from Florida?
We had to build crates for the sculptures...there were approximately 230 to move. And many are quite delicate. Plus shop equipment, sound and lighting equipment, and personal belongings and household goods. It required two containers that traveled to Denver by railroad, and two trucks which we drove. I felt like a Pink Floyd roadie.