Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State (University Park)

Final installation view of Adam Frelin's Extended Sunset installation at Eisenhower Auditorium
Final installation view of Adam Frelin’s Extended Sunset installation at Eisenhower Auditorium

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The Penn State Center for the Performing Arts’ flagship facility is the Milton S. Eisenhower Auditorium, located on the University Park campus.  The Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) will be working with Adam Frelin this year to develop a public artwork at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Extended Sunset consists of a photograph of a particularly dramatic Pennsylvania sunset installed into the six large windows of Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park campus of Penn State University. The image in each window is backlit by LED lights that are controlled by an astronomical timer. At the exact moment that actual sunset begins, the lights in the windows will begin to illuminate. As actual sunset wanes, Extended Sunset will brighten. Each sunset will be acting in inverse proportion to the other.

Extended Sunset
simulates that unexpected, yet deeply welcoming blast of color and light that many people living in this part of the country long for. Instead of ending it at dusk, the artist has greedily chosen to extend his sunset deep into the night, long after all the brightness should have faded away.

ARTIST PROCESS STATEMENT:
Growing up in Pennsylvania, I longed for more sunlight. Overcast days were hard on me, so when a splash of pink, orange or violet showed up at sunset, my mood instantly changed for the better. Knowing that the quality of light around State College is unlikely to change anytime soon, I took it upon myself to create an art project that will at least simulate sunnier times.

PARTNER COMMITTEE
George Trudeau, Director
Amy Vashaw, Director of Audience & Program Development
Lea Asbell-Swanger, Assistant Director
Laura Sullivan, Marketing & Communications Director
Medora Ebersole, Education & Community Programs Manager
Hope Falk, Student Engagement Manager

SUPPORTERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Katie Rountree, Facilities Coordinator
Amy Milgrub Marshall, Marketing Strategy Specialist, College of Arts & Architecture