ARTIST OF THE WEEK | George Berlin of Glen Ellyn

by Mindy Kyle

CREATING WHIMSICAL & ENGAGING LIGHT SCULPTURES

Glen Ellyn artist George Berlin has the fascinating occupation of creating whimsical and engaging light sculptures, animation and immersive installations for light festivals and museums around the world, including several at the DuPage Children’s Museum.

“The art I design is meant to be experienced more than just looked at,” says George. “Some you can touch, some you can climb on or play with and some you help create with me.”

Currently working in Taiwan, George and his team recently created the “Tree of Light”, a 35-foot-tall light sculpture that took dozens of welders and acrylic installers. This sculpture and their “Open Your Heart” light sculpture were created to boost an entire region in the mountainous village of Laiji, which was hit hard by a typhoon in 2009. His large projection mapping projects have found much notoriety as well. “EarthRise Apollo: Moonbeams” debuted on the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, a monumental sight, nearly 1000 feet long. “Let’s Dance” was chosen Audience Favorite by 120,000 guests at Seattle’s Borealis Festival of Light in 2018.

Closer to home, last summer George launched Monster:Impossible, a multi-state art scavenger hunt where he hid over 50 paintings of silly monsters in 4 cities around the country with tricky clues, challenges and puzzles on social media. “I wanted to get people outside for a safe adventure with their kids,” says George. “During this pandemic, it was a welcome diversion for so many.”

You can discover more of George’s art on his website www.georgeberlin.com on Instagram @georgeberlinart or on Facebook under George Berlin Studios. If you have interest in the stories and images detailing his adventures creating the light art in Taiwan, check out his blog at www.georgeberlin.com/blog .

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