The annual awards are held at the InfoComm tradeshow and represent achievements in AV excellence in some of the most unique and challenging environments. One judge commented on the winning Freeman event: "It is difficult for a lighting submission to grab attention when it's up against so many great total staging projects with video. But lighting is one area that can own a show if it is done properly and this event exemplifies the power of light over the audience."
Freeman provided full lighting, audio, video and scenic elements for the winning conference. The multi-day event featured 20 guest speakers discussing their works as well as an awards ceremony.
The event lighting design was by Freeman AV Chicago's in house LD, Anne Sedlock with programming by Dabney Forest. "We use the Vista T2 on almost all this style of show," says Sedlock. "It provides us with the flexibility and the ease of use we need to get our shows up and looking great in very little time."
The challenge was how to give the single stage a different look for each day of the conference presentations, as well as for the awards ceremony. Sedlock's lighting concept was to make the stage scenic elements really stand out by using numerous unique looks to keep the lighting fresh.
For the main scenic element, a massive curved frame covered in white spandex material, she used Chroma-Q Color Split LED fixtures to provide subtle looks of gradiant color uplighting from the base of the structure. Chroma-Q Color Block compact LED units were used to get into the many curves of the scenic piece and add highlights where needed, as well as adding a hint of colour to the drape line upstage. In addition, Vari-Lite VL3500 Spots provided a layer of downlighting and texture. All fixtures were chosen from Freeman AV Chicago's in-house inventory.
(Jim Evans)
