Raleigh artist merges light, music to illuminate Dorothea Dix Park horizon

A new exhibit will add light to the park’s horizon by putting art up in the trees.

Artist Nate Sheaffer’s office is a quirky form of expression. Sheaffer's art is what many call neon signs, but his art stretches beyond that term.

“I’m trying to make bigger pieces that engage the public in a way, either just as a folly or thought-provoking medium that will make someone look at light a little differently,” he said.

Sheaffer's idea is to build something that goes beyond a single sensory sensation.

“A lot of folks look at neon signs as background noise,” he said. “I’m not going for a look, I’m going for a feel.”

Soon everyone will be able to feel that expression in Raleigh's Dix Park.

Sheaffer is going to install 384 gas filled glass coils in two white oak trees.

The tubes will illuminate in more than 40 colors, all controlled by music park visitors create on instruments near the base of the trees.

“The movement of your hands, the actions of your fingers on the keyboards of percussive instruments, will register, and I think that’s going to be a fun experience for people.”

Shaeffer said he also plans to be one of those people.

“I’m really just making it so that I can go over there and play, and bring my friends over and play this giant audio-visual instrument,” he said.

Opening night for the interactive art is May 11 at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh.

The event is free, but people must {{a href="external _link-0"}}register to attend.{{/a}}