Week 10: !!!!!!! spectrum

For my final blog, and my site specific blog assignment, I went to the Irvine Spectrum. With the holiday season upon us, it was interesting to try and identify what the designers of the location had wanted to accomplish, not what the designers of the holiday lights wanted to accomplish.

 

These pictures embody the overall environment that I think the designers were trying to accomplish. From previous observations of the Spectrum, I realized the architectural design follows a fairy-tale light Arabic architectural pattern, from the large round archways opening to a paradisaical path. The general lighting at the Spectrum goes along with the same theme. In these pictures, the lights emphasize the circular shape of the expansive archway(s), and though not shown in these pictures, lantern like lights transport the visitor to a different place and an earlier time. During the day, Flag like fabric hung in chains prevents the sun from overheating, while at night, these fabrics are illuminated, expanding on the attempted Arabic feel. The holiday lights on the two rows of palm trees bejewel, create a feeling of wealth, and expands the path.

After roaming around the entirety of Spectrum, I found that this little Santa Shack is particularly successful. Assuming it is not up all year, this little show seems to attempt to create an imaginative, joyful, "North-pole-like" feel to the "store." Although not actually a real store, but a place decked out with Orange Country themed holiday things, and the place where I can meet the Orange County Santa, I thought that the set up and the lighting of the store really captured the carefree, fun, yet Chirstmas-centered feel the designers probably were trying to get across. The circular bottom of the spot light directed the attention of the passerby to the shop, and the gobo highlighted the holiday feel. The mini led Christmas lights on and around the shop created just enough color to be recognized from far away.

A store that I felt was unsuccessful in portraying what it appeared to have attempted to portray was this jewelry store (I don't know the name). I believe that the pearl like lights on the edge of the display cases was an attempt to give of a graceful and delicate impression. However, the overexposed look of the inside, and the direct light shining not only onto the jewelry but inside the entire store created more of a tacky feel. There was nothing intimate or personal about the store, and the abundance of sparkling jewelry heightened the exaggerated feel of the display. 

As a closing, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Spectrum tonight. It took me out of my over tired state, and the lavish holiday lights along with the holiday music playing in the background lifted my spirit. It did help that I had good company :)