A little light can go a long way in the darkness. It can bring awareness to surroundings. it can cut its own path. It will draw the human eye to it every time. That is the sole intention of Light it up Blue. How a few blue lights can draw the public’s attention to a plight that now affects us all.
In 2007, the UN adopted the slogan, “Light it up Blue,” to shine a light on autism as a growing health problem. April 2 is now dedicated as the day on which we should all turn on a blue light, but the whole month follows in spirit. Over 18,600 buildings alone were lit in blue, but that’s just the registered number.
We went online and asked the lighting community for a little help this year. I asked all the LDs if they could put up a blue wash on their stage for a walk-in look. Heck, whatever they lit blue was acceptable. And the pictures started coming. Some LD’s shot their act in a blue scene. Others turned the cameras around to capture the blue audiences. Houses and Lighting demo rooms were turned into beautiful hues. Blue cupcakes went to a great cause.
All in all, I had 80 people contribute. From the New Mexico high school basketball awards to my friend’s roof. You can view their submitted photos at the link below. There, you can see a slide show of all the contributions. Once you get there, by clicking on the images you can find more info about that photo.
PLSN editor Nook Schoenfeld is a longtime advocate for autism awareness and research. For an online gallery featuring examples of designers who lit it up blue this past April, go to www.plsn.me/BlueForAutism.
