Illuminate Delaware honours essential workers
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Based in Wilmington, Main Light Industries is one of the largest rental companies in the United States yet the company also plays a valued role in their local community. Main Light employee and lifelong Wilmington resident John DiEleuterio coordinated the effort with assistance from Electro Sound Systems, BEW Productions, Wake Media, and Spaceboy Clothing, as well as a sizeable team of volunteers.
A collective of Delaware lighting and event industry professionals gave their time and energy to help make the event a reality, helping with designing, programming, and set up and tear down of gear.
“Our plan was to light iconic Delaware locations as a show of gratitude to our essential workers and a symbol of unity to our fellow Delawareans,” stated DiEleuterio. “Main Light donated use of lighting fixtures and everyone involved volunteered their time. I get a ton of joy out of seeing things lit up and I saw this as an opportunity to hopefully make people smile at a time when there really isn’t much to smile about.”
Several of Wilmington’s iconic sites, as well as other landmarks around Delaware, were lit for the occasion. Elation had products involved at two sites - the 1201 Market Street Building (the tallest building in Delaware), which utilized 42 Level Q7 IP RGBW PAR lights and six Paladin LED multi-effect lights; and the New Castle Courthouse, which utilised six Paladin. Tom Manchester, Michael Yarabinee and the Electro Sound Systems’ crew handled both of the Elation featured locations.
The Old State House and the Governor's official residence Woodburn both in Dover and the distinctive spire of St. Anthony's of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington – were all lit using Astera AX5 TriplePAR wireless LED fixtures.
The buildings were lit in blue for frontline / essential workers for three nights and then on the Monday Memorial Day evening, the color scheme shifted to red, white and blue to honour all the soldiers who have died in the line of duty.
The six pop-up lighting schemes installed just for the weekend were joined in the action by other buildings around the cities of Wilmington and Dover which already have permanent architectural lighting.
Mayor Purzycki commented, “We are all trying to cope with troubling news these days, and I’m especially pleased that John and his fellow lighting and event industry professionals have taken the initiative to brighten everyone’s mood. This is just the kind of positive event that we all need right now.”
(Jim Evans)
