Luna Fête turns 10 and expands to Gretna
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Lindsay Glatz is a New Orleans artist and one of the organizers for Luna Fête. Photo: Courtesy of Lindsay Glatz
New Orleans' light art festival, Luna Fête, turns 10 this year and expands programming to Gretna.
Why it matters: The event, Dec. 7-10, is largely free and offers a unique way to experience art in the city.
We caught up with Lindsay Glatz, the creative director of Luna Fête organizer Arts New Orleans, who has helped shepherd the event since its inception.
How'd you get to New Orleans? "I came down for an internship many years ago. Then Katrina happened, and I ended up staying. … I worked with CVB on frontlines of city recovering and shaping stories about New Orleans and the wonderful things happening with recovery.
- "You grow roots really quickly."
Why it's important for the event to evolve: "Luna Fête is known for showcasing New Orleans in a different light.
- "Luna Fete is a temporary activation, this ephemeral idea of what cities and places can be and showing that in their best light. It's a festival where we highlight innovation, so we can't rely on tradition."
What's new this year: "There's no signature projection mapping on the Convention Center, but we have an incredible work by Architects of Air out of the U.K."
- That work is called the "Luminarium," and it's a "giant inflatable sculpture that people can walk into and experience this magical color environment where you're enveloped in light."
- Exploring the "Luminarium" is a ticketed event because organizers have to limit participants, Glatz says. It's free for kids under 5, $5 for children ages 5 to 10, and $10 for everyone over 10.
What's happening on the West Bank: "We're doing projection mapping by three incredible artists who came up through Luna Fête's training program, and they're mapping Gretna City Hall.
- "The major piece we're excited about is a water projection. … [The artist] has a machine that creates a fan of water in the air and projects light on that, and it looks holographic. It's a special experience, and not something we could ever do on this side of the river."
- Plus, visitors can expect a puppet parade and lantern-making stations.
Worth noting: The RTA will operate the ferry between the base of Canal Street and Gretna for the festival.
Glatz's go-to cocktail: "A Hendrick's gin and tonic."
Her favorite local social media follow: "Visit New Orleans. I like to see how they're shaping the tone of how we talk about the city, and they also uncover what's happening and what's new."
One thing she thinks New Orleans is missing: "Polish food. I grew up in Chicago, and I'm Polish, but there's no Polish culture down here."