Overview
The next seven nights will see parts of Alice Springs and its surrounds shine brighter than ever before, as the region's third annual Parrtjima - A Festival In Light delivers its most expansive program yet.
The free public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling is perhaps best known for its dazzling light installations, as First Nations' identity is shared across a whole swag of genres. This year, Parrtjima — the nation's first indigenous festival of its kind — will feature seven of these luminous displays, gracing both Alice Springs Desert Park and for the first time, Todd Mall in the Alice Springs CBD.
The expanded CBD program includes a series of huge lit-up caterpillar designs, as well as a symbolic 'river of light' LED projection, flowing through the mall precinct in a striking display of textures, colours and patterns.
Just out of town, tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park will also come alive, awash with light from 6.30–10.30pm each night of the festival. Once again, a huge artwork will transform a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, this year working to the theme "from sunset to sunrise" with a more immersive light show experience than ever before.
Visitors will be able to weave through a series of large-scale tree-inspired light sculptures for the Forest Space installation, or immerse themselves in art and storytelling as part of Grounded, where installations are projected onto the earth accompanied by a striking soundscape.
There's the interactive Colour Space booth, featuring over 500 individually controlled LEDs responding to each person's movements, and even a hands-on kids' playground space, with captivating designs by Keringke Arts.
The light installations are backed by a jam-packed program of dance, music, workshops and talks, sharing stories and celebrating First Nations' culture. It's a nice supplement to the area's Field of Light installation, which has been extended until 2020. If you can't get to the red centre this week, the images show just how incredible the landscape looks lit up at night.
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs from September 28 until October 7 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website.
Images: James Horan.