Interactive three-color laser display will fill 24 stories in a hotel atrium this fall

Ann Arbor, MI--Stratus 10, a tricolor laser art projection, will be located at the JW Marriott hotel in Grand Rapids, MI this September, an entry in the 2012 ArtPrize competition. It will be 16 feet wide by 24 stories tall and will consist of abstract laser light being projected by an equally abstract aluminum sculpture sited in the lounge area of a major hotel. The light show will be controllable by humans via a Microsoft Kinect gaming device.

The projector is equipped with six so-called “laser cannons” (although not the type seen in Star Wars), each containing a laser system with three colors—two lasers each of red, green, and blue. Custom optics convert the beam into a wall-filling abstract kinetic pattern. To make things more interesting, the entire piece is controlled by someone moving their body in front of a Microsoft Kinect, which detects body movement via infrared beams and a vision system. The Kinect was originally intended as a game controller, but has been adapted by many artists as a means to control various works of art.

Ann Arbor-based laser artist Mike Gould has been working on this for over a year in preparation for this year’s competition. Gould has been working with lasers, electro-optic components, and industrial design since the early 1970s. In 1972 he mail-ordered a helium-neon gas laser and adapted it for use in a "Son et Lumière" presentation at the University of Michigan School of Education. He has a core team of experts in lasers, electronics, computers, and so on working with him on this.

He and his team are seeking sponsors to support this undertaking. Prospective donors are encouraged to visit the project’s website at mikegouldlaserartist.com.

ArtPrize is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan over a three-week period from Sept. 19 to Oct. 7, 2012. More than 1500 artists have registered this year. A number of prizes are available, the largest being the $200,000 grand prize, which is awarded by a vote of attendees. There are also juried prizes. ArtPrize draws more than 300,000 people. 162 urban venues will display the artists’ offerings, from museums to hotels to soup kitchens.