By Vicki Meek
Downtown Dallas is about to be lit, both literally and figuratively this Saturday! AURORA
2024 Biennial features 26 art activations by both Texas and international artists who
create work that involves technology. The activations can be witnessed for free and run
every 30 minutes from 7 pm until 1 am, Saturday November 16. What’s an art
activation? Well, it’s everything from a colossal light show to a gospel choir, an all-
female mariachi band to a high school marching band, and a myriad of visual
storytelling works and danceworks that explore issues important to our citizens!
In 2010, two forward thinking artists and one equally forward-thinking arts supporter
envisioned a public art event that defied the typical definition of public art. Shane
Pennington, Joshua King and former Councilwoman Veletta Forsythe Lill birthed
AURORA in the Dallas Arts District. It has since grown to include multiple events in
various neighborhoods and numerous artists from Texas and around the world. Light,
sound, movement, music, all converge to present an exciting and surprising artistic
gumbo, exposing Dallas to a kaleidoscope of the arts.
This year, AURORA will be presented in the Dallas City Hall, Dallas Convention Center
area, with spectacular light art projected on the walls of the buildings and performances
on their plazas. Some of the noted local artists are Ciara Elle Bryant, Tramaine
Townsend, Jess Garland, Courtney Ware, DGDG, Melanie Clemmons and Zak Loyd.
The event was curated by internationally acclaimed guest curators Leslie Moody
Castro(Mexico City/Austin) and Kendal Henry(New York City).
For a full lineup of the event and details on parking, visit the AURORA website
www.dallasaurora.com.