BLINK 2024
“Good Luck and Godspeed” projection by Kyle Eli Ebersole appearing with “Armstrong” by Eduardo Kobra.
After the sun disappeared and darkness set in, the city was still shining. Not just in a literal sense from all of the artistic installations, but also due to the anticipation emanating from the crowds filling the streets. An omen of good vibes that even my cynical brain could embrace, despite a well-informed civic pessimism. For four nights, Cincinnati transformed into what could be described as a real-life version of those Pure Moods commercials from the 1990s.
“Clive” by Mark Phelps.
An installation at Fountain Square sponsored by the philanthropic arm of a corporate bank.
“Crescendo” by Kyle Eli Ebersole and Ian Molitors.
Listening to folks take turns late into the evening at the piano of “Crescendo” was among the best moments I’ve ever experienced as a denizen of the true Queen City. One of the minds behind that piece—my friend, Kyle Eli Ebersole—also developed “Good Luck and Godspeed.” A visual and auditory tribute to an American hero projected over one of the city’s finest murals: 2016’s “Armstrong” by Eduardo Kobra.
“Good Luck and Godspeed” projection by Kyle Eli Ebersole appearing with “Armstrong” by Eduardo Kobra.
“Good Luck and Godspeed” projection by Kyle Eli Ebersole appearing with “Armstrong” by Eduardo Kobra.
And then there were things like “Emergence” from This is Loop out of the UK. An installation that I believe may be the only thing on earth that replicates the sensation of walking through the Super Saver Cinemas light tunnel at the defunct Forest Fair Mall. Yeah, that’s a hyper local reference, but BLINK had me feeling a strong sense of local pride.
“Emergence” by This is Loop.
“Emergence” by This is Loop.
“Emergence” by This is Loop.
Every time this biennial event rolls around—I tell myself that I’m just going to go out and enjoy it, not make any photographs. Yet, I always end up bringing a camera and on the final night of this year’s edition, my to-do list read:
“Eat a hot dog and shoot wide angle shots.”
I did both.
“Paraluna” by Christopher Schardt.
“the cathedral” by Evan Verrilli.
“Emergence” by This is Loop.
After the crowds went home and Sunday night rolled into Monday morning, I bought a random milkshake and walked my neighborhood as it resumed its normal, muted character. One installation, “the cathedral” by Evan Verrilli, was still powered on. As I stood alone in its red glow—I felt that this had, by far, been the best BLINK yet. A stunning showcase of not just art, but the city of Cincinnati itself.
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