NKyTribune staff
The organizers of BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, Thursday announced additional entertainment and display components focused on Northern Kentucky’s participation in the event.
The alternative rock band Grouplove will play a free concert the night of Saturday, October 12 in Covington’s RiverCenter parking lot. Opening act will be announced at a later date for the concert, which is part of the BLINK, presented by ArtsWave, event (provided photo).
Grouplove, the alternative rock band best known for its Billboard top-five charting songs, “Tongue Tied,” “Ways to Go” and “Welcome to Your Life,” will play a free concert the night of Saturday, October 12 in Covington’s RiverCenter parking lot.
The concert is a collaboration between Kroger Wellness Your Way Festival, BLINK and Corporex; builder and owner of RiverCenter. Opening acts for the concert will be announced soon.
“Thanks very much to Corporex and the producers of BLINK for collaborating with Kroger’s Wellness Your Way Festival to bring a free Grouplove concert to Northern Kentucky,” said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. “We look forward to sharing internationally known live music and the Kroger Wellness Your Way Festival, October 11-13, with fans of BLINK.”
BLINK, illuminated by ArtsWave, will happen October 10-13 from Cincinnati’s Findlay Market neighborhood to Covington, Kentucky – bridging two states, and spanning 30 city blocks and the Ohio River. The only U.S. event of its kind, BLINK will feature large-scale projection mapping, murals by international artists, interactive light sculptures and diverse entertainment.
“Covington will be one of BLINK’s most densely packed zones for art, light, music and food. More than 20 installations will be featured from the Roebling Bridge to Seventh and Madison not to mention dozens of activities and street performers,” said Brendon Cull, COO of BLINK partner, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, “We are thrilled to be expanding the wildly popular art and culture event, BLINK, into Northern Kentucky. It has always been our vision to celebrate our region as a community wide celebration.”
Brendon Cull, COO the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber announced some of BLINK events, specifically to Northern Kentucky, at FIRE at RiverCenter in Covington Thursday (photo by Mark Hansel)
Cull apologized for the lack of visuals at the media conference, saying that was intentional.
“We wanted everything to be a surprise,” he said.
Through the support of Corporex, a new mural will be created for BLINK by locally based Xylene, in collaboration with BLINK partner, The Agar.
The mural will be animated through projection mapping by BLINK partner, Brave Berlin. The mural, a permanent addition to the community, will be across the street from Covington’s RiverCenter, on the tower of the north side of the TANK garage.
“Covington is my home, and the Cincinnati Region is my community,” said William P. Butler, chairman of the Board of Corporex Companies. “I look forward to everyone, from both sides of the river, sharing a moment of art and light while experiencing the urban core of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati through BLINK.”
Additional Northern Kentucky highlights scheduled for BLINK will include:
* The John A. Roebling bridge will connect BLINK’s route as a featured iconic landmark bathed in light and sound. Artists Brave Berlin of Cincinnati and MASARY Studios, a team of Boston artists specializing in urban interactive experiences will make the Singing Bridge “sing,” working with local lighting experts Vincent Lighting of Erlanger, Kentucky
A rendering of how the John A. Roebling bridge, which will connect BLINK’s route as a featured iconic landmark, might appear (file image).
* The Ascent will magically come to life, bathed in animated light on all sides with vibrant colors and patterns
* A mural celebrating Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. will be created, in time for BLINK, on the back of the U.S. Bank building at Sixth and Madison streets
* BLINK will highlight two internationally acclaimed street artists through architectural projection mapping. Both sides of the Faile Mural on West 6th Street (projection by local media artist, Chris Glenn), as well as the London Police mural on 4th and Scott Street (projection by Brave Berlin)
* Another architectural projection mapping will animate the beautiful Hannaford Building. BLINK has commissioned Klip Collective – A pioneer and creative powerhouse in projection mapping from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Northern Kentucky University is creating a light installation that will actually sit on the Ohio River
* The World’s Largest Mobile Disco Ball, made in Kentucky, will return for BLINK – and find its home in Covington for a pop-up Disco Party.
Corporex chairman of the board William P. “Bill” Butler said he looks forward to everyone from both sides of the river sharing a moment of art and light while experiencing the urban core of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati through BLINK (photo by Mark Hansel)
Several City of Covington officials attended the announcement and said they eagerly anticipated the attention brought to the city.
“BLINK will bring quite a climax to an exciting week in Covington and give us a chance to showcase our city in a beautiful and exciting way to enormous crowds from around the world, many of whom may be visiting Covington for the first time,” City Manager David Johnston said.
Free and open to the public, BLINK’s inaugural four-night event in October 2017 spanned 20 blocks and was experienced by more than one million visitors, the largest gathering of people ever in downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine.
Thursday’s announcements took place on the patio of FIRE at RiverCenter in Covington.
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com
