The past week, students at UCSB were lucky enough to experience the Mirazozo Luminarium, an amazing and enchanting display of radiant light and color. The Architects of Air, originally based in Nottingham, England, tour and display their exhibit to the public; Santa Barbara was their first stop in the United States. The AS Program Board planned the event for three months beforehand. Inside the inflatable sculpture, circular hallways and ceilings are illuminated with bright reds blue, and green patterns. These colors are created by the natural sunlight shining through colored plastic and emitting the vivid spectrum. In the background, a soft ethereal trance style tune played, adding to the awe-striking nature of the whole experience. It is somewhat of a paradox; the environment is stimulating to the senses yet extremely relaxing at the same time. 2nd year Communication majors Michelle Mak and Christina Collins described their experience as “dreamy and whimsical” and the luminarium as “one of a kind and almost a new world.”
Architect Allan Parkinson was inspired by Muslim and gothic architecture; the winding hallways and dome ceilings are supposed to be reminiscent of the bazaars in the Middle East. The soft structure of the luminarium allowed for spectators to sit down and gaze up at the light patterns on the ceilings and walls. “The layout is very interesting, I like the juxtaposition of the circular walls and ceilings to the linear designs of light,” comments first year undeclared student Evan Perlman, “although some spiral patterns would be a good addition.” Small alcoves of blue and red were scattered throughout, where students and adults alike would lie back and “absorb the ambience.” Second year communication major Kathy Tran related the interior to a “circus tent mixed with a space dome” that has “an extremely soothing power and is very de-stressing.” The luminarium quickly caught attention, and by the end of the week, lines stretched down the walkway and up the stairs by the lagoon, the wait being an hour or so. The next stops for the Architects of Air and the Mirazozo Luminarium are Texas and Arizona. “Everyone always comes out smiling, wherever we go, people are always intrigued.” observed the event manager, Gabriel Burden.