Newman Students Design and Build Installation for Luna Fête 2017

This year’s Luna Fête (December 6-9) will feature a special installation designed and built by Newman students.

Ten massive helium-filled balloons, each 10 feet in diameter and containing networked, multicolored LED lights, will illuminate Lafayette Street between Camp and Magazine Streets with interactive and programmed light displays. The special invitation to create the installation is a remarkable opportunity for students to deepen their experience with programming and physical prototyping through a real-world application.

Officials with the Arts Council of New Orleans approached the students to design a solution to a challenge at Luna Fête: permanent installations are prohibited on Lafayette Street between Camp and Magazine, but this block links Luna Fête’s two main areas of installations. The Council asked Newman to design a solution that guides guests down the block, and is also cost-effective, visually appealing, and not fixed to the ground.

“The solution the students designed includes balloons attached to mobile hand trucks and serves to link the two main areas featuring permanent installations,” said computer science and Makerspace instructor Jenna deBoisblanc, who oversaw the project in her Arduino Programming course. “It’s a really smart idea and they’ve worked really hard to execute the plan. We can’t wait to see these giant globes illuminated.”

Once the basic concept of illuminated balloons was decided, students in deBoisblanc’s class submitted prototypes for the balloons’ various lighting functions. The code they developed will be incorporated into the final light modes, which will include rainbow colors and even Newman’s colors of green and white. Students also participated in assembling the balloons.

The students in deBoisblanc's Arduino Programming class are: Griffin Descant '20, Foster Heuer '18, James Meadows '18, David Nguyen '18, James Nguyen '21, Connor Page '18, Will Reynoir '18, and Sam Robbins '18. 

A group that includes Newman faculty and staff have collaborated on a light and music installation further down Lafayette for this year’s Luna Fête. Alex Smith, Director of Newman Plus, and Jenna deBoisblanc, along with their collective Kirasu, will present Constellations, “an animated interactive celestial skyscape and a cosmic orchestra of light and sound.” The installation features original music by Smith, Sarah Fontenelle, and the late Dave Rosser.