The City of San Jose's Illuminating Downtown Program combines art and high-tech strategies to physically manifest San Jose’s goals for creating a more engaging Downtown that looks, feels and acts like the Capital of Silicon Valley.

The following Light and Tech Public Artworks are part of Illuminating Downtown Program.

Sensing You and Sensing Water

Artist: Dan Corson

Sensing You is an interactive artwork defined by over 1000 painted circles and 81 individually controlled illuminated rings that play a variety of patterns and low-resolution mapped video over the ceiling surface of the I-87 highway underpass at Santa Clara Street. The patterns are activated by pedestrians and bicyclists moving through the space- setting off pre-programmed sequences.

Sensing Water is a weather-responding and interactive artwork utilizing light and paint to define the downtown gateway at Highway 87 and San Fernando St. The project is composed of 2 elements, the massive painted sloped wall that abstractly references flowing water, and the overhead evening lighting that illuminates with rippling patterns of light the underpass.

The project uses real-time NOAA weather data to compose different patterns of light on the ceiling. (e.g.: 0-5mph winds vs thunderstorms).

San Carlos Street Lantern Relay

Artists: Steve Durie and Bruce Gardner

San Carlos Lantern Relay is comprised on eight 6' tall lanterns along E. San Carlos Street between the San Jose State University campus and the downtown cultural and events district. The lanterns are programmed to "play" a range of lighting programs and respond to pedestrian traffic. Interrupting the programmed lighting, people are invited to activate the lanterns via a button on the support pole.

Show Your Stripes

Artist: Jim Conti

Show Your Stripes is a phone activated light work on The 88 Residence at Second and San Fernando Streets. Download the pdf below for a listing of the over 300 light program codes and titles developed by the artist.

Patterns can be changed with your cell phone.

1. Download and/or Print New Program Menu
2. Program your phone with 408 287-0128 to Show Your Stripes.
3. After the beep enter three numbers, then press zero, hang up and watch the lights change.

More About Show Your Stripes ~ Fact Sheet

Illuminating Downtown is an initiative of the Public Art Program of the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs.

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