FFA
Decatur FFA/Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy
Students at the new Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy — which provides ag-centric curriculum for Decatur Eisenhower and MacArthur High Schools — put the skills they learned in the classroom to use in creating a lighted tribute to the FFA, located just off of Rathje Drive near the Main Parking Lot at this year’s light show.
The effort has enabled students to get hands-on experience in woodworking and welding, in addition to seeing the finished work serve as part of the Park’s Holiday GLOW.
“The real advantage to projects like this is it is applying what we’re learning, said Decatur Eisenhower agriculture teacher Scott Davidson.
The first ‘F’ is metal, while the second is all wood taken from discarded palettes.
The ‘A’ is currently welded rebar, but Davidson hopes to make it weaved willow branches in the future. After going on display at Allerton, the artwork will likely go on display at the Ag Academy, Davidson said.
You can learn more about this combined effort between Allerton and Decatur schools here.
Mycelium Network
By dreaMachine Transmissions
Get ready to make some noise! That is the best way to experience Mycelium Network, located on GLOW’s dark path between the Fu Dog Garden and Main Parking Lot. Crafted by dreaMachine Transmissions, these colorful strings of lighted glass react to noise, whether by singing a holiday song or just saying ‘hello.’
This piece was crafted by the talented artist duo of David Jester and Stivan Widick, who together make up dreaMachine Transmissions.
Open Shapes
By Zoelle Nagib
Open Shapes is a color-changing piece of artwork you can view at this year’s Holiday GLOW. Located in the “dark zone” of the walk between the Fu Dog Garden and the Main Parking Lot, the neon work by artist Zoelle Nagib reacts to changes in temperature.
“A unique aspect is that the colors will change with the temperature outdoors, lighting blue in warmer temps and red in colder weather,” Nagib said.
She added the artwork, made from recycling scrap glass tubing from her father’s neon studio, “came about while imagining what it would be like to walk through constellations. We draw flat pictures from our vantage point here on earth, but they are three-dimensional.”
This is the second time she has been a part of GLOW, the other being when she displayed a large oil painting with neon words entitled Pretend to Gardens Unsown in 2021.
To find out more about her art, follow her on Instagram @zoelle.artist.
Siombosis
By Melina Scotte
These four, colorful 4 x 8-foot panels are colorful during the day, but Siombosis takes on a whole new life when black lights illuminate them under the evening skies of GLOW.
“The idea came some time ago to create a painting that people can interact with,” said artist Melina Scotte. “The Installation is a combination four boards with different paintings on them. Under normal lights they have a concept, and under UV (ultraviolet) lights have different designs. I use a special UV reactive paint that is only visible under UV or black lights. Under normal ambient light the UV paint is translucent and not visible. This provides a surprise or hidden painting for the viewer.”
That results in an eventful trip to the House of the Golden Buddhas — where Siombosis is displayed — as the viewer gets to see hidden figures once the black lights are turned on. This is Scotte’s first time displaying art at Allerton.
You can see more of her art on her website or on Instagram @Melscotte.
Spiral Henge
By John David Mooney
One of the brighter pieces of artwork at this year’s GLOW is Spiral Henge by Chicago-area artist John David Mooney. The bright blue lines greet visitors as they begin their walk through GLOW.
“Spiral Henge is placed on the axis which begins with the gated pillars across from the Gatehouse and continues on the processional path of evergreens and arbors toward the gazebo and the Garden of the Fu Dogs,” Mooney said. “This powerful axis, implied but not delineated, actually continues in the opposite direction through the pillars and onto the Walled Garden and the formal gardens.”
The blue standing lines also have a tie to the Winter Solstice — the shortest day of the year — to “provide hope and joy by countering the darkness and offering a mystical light.”
Learn more about John David Mooney on his website.
Wings & Fish
By Mike Young
These majestic metal pieces hover above the path between the Mansion and the Formal Gardens are colorfully lit to get the attention of visitors who pass beneath them. The birds hover directly above the path, while the fish are just off the path, lined up as a school swimming through the winter air.
“I’ve been making work about flight for a long time as well as light art. I started making these a few years ago and this one is lit with neon tubes,” Young said.
Michael is displaying his work for the third time at Allerton. Learn more about his art on his website.
Find more information on Holiday GLOW here.
