8 June 1992 Lincoln Provides Cheer amid the Power Crisis

Twelve-volt car batteries, cardboard, polystyrene, string, paste and other creative materials will provide novel lustre to Victoria Square on Thursday night between 6 and 8pm when Lincoln University Landscape Architecture students offer cheer amid the power cut blues with a "Light In The Dark" show.

In a serious academic exercise aimed at raising public awareness of the creative use of light in public spaces, seventy students, in groups and teams, will demonstrate battery-powered devices they have made to illustrate the impact of light on the cityscape at night.

"For a number of years Lincoln University's Landscape Architecture Department has encouraged its students to think about the use of light at night, as much as in the daytime, when considering the architecture of cities," says urban design lecturer Lisa Gelfand.

"To this end we have presented two previous light shows in Christchurch – one in Cranmer Square and one on the banks of the Avon.

"We make the point that even in winter and at night, public spaces still exist and are able to be used. Through the medium of light their presence and function can be enhanced and their integration with the rest of the cityscape can be maintained irrespective of the clock and the seasons.

"Later on, as landscape architects, many of our students will be involved in designing urban spaces and we hope the lessons they learn about light will be retained.

"The 'Light In The Dark' show is a public participation event – there will be sound and movement as well as light – and we are hoping for plenty of involvement by everyone.

"The battery-powered devices will make their point even when mains electricity is at a premium," says Ms Gelfand.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand