LUNA Festival of Nocturnal Art and Wonder is back in all its glory on September 23 to 25. After a two-year hiatus where LUNA Reimagined kept the flame of outdoor arts, performance and culture alive in Revelstoke, 2022 is set to be the biggest most impressive LUNA ever, with the theme FLIGHT. Kicking off with LUNA SOUND on Friday night with an impressive and diverse night of music featuring 10bands across 4 stages. LUNA ARTS will be a mind-blowing extravaganza of installation art, interactive performances, and Art Allery discoveries spread across Revelstoke’s downtown core. The weekend Festival offering will be rounded out by LUNA Studio on Sunday filled with workshops, artist talks and studio tours. Come to LUNA and prepare to experience Revelstoke as you have never seen it before.
As the clock strikes 6pm on Saturday, September 24, the spectacle that is LUNA ARTS will begin with a travelling parade of mushrooms, local youth led by talented artist Isabelle Kirouac. This funky funghi procession will lead to the main stage at First and Mackenzie where Inuit throat singers PiqSiq will perform ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions, their improvisational live looping will permeate winter darkness and ethereal feeling throughout the streets of Revelstoke. Linger a while and you will get to experience the incredible force that is embodies by the Yukon’s Dakhká Khwáan Dancers featuring electronic re-mixes of traditional-style Tlingit music in partnership with DJ Dash.
From here explore video projections by Emily Beaudoin Wind Dispersed Seeds of the World and video mapping by Taylor Sandell along Mackenzie. Dip into Grizzly Plaza filled with a plethora of original work by talented local artists, lose yourself in the Camera Obscura by Charise Folnovic, wonder at the Bubble Works by Leah Allison, discover The Gnorm Storm! by the Revelstoke Idea Factory and experience the live old-time Cranky performance by Denis Severino and Myra Morrison.
Head down the Regent Alleyway to discover a spectacular new 3D metal Art Allery by Zuzana Riha and linger a while with your kids for a clown tour de force of comedy and conundrum by award winning creator Candice Roberts comes a. With a vintage silent film styling, shadow puppetry, stop motion animation projections, dance and live music, the world of Ideas Bobert is rich with magic and creativity in the front room of the Regent. Continue over to the Cabin alleyway for another family pleaser and experience the unique immersive installation Galactic Gateway by the LUNAtics.
From here head to the Dose alleyway to catch a breath-taking ride on the Powder Slug Express and experience the second Art Allery the Jingle Dress Dancer by local indigenous artist Delree Dumont, look closely to see the detailed embellishments – real jingle cones, (365 cones for every day of the year) studs, feathers, beads and pointillism. Delve deeper into this alleyway to discover a parkade transformed into a vibrant mountainscape by Hunter Powell, and a giant reimagined Cocoon by Jess Leahey. This oversized cedar cocoon encases an infinity experience where you can peer inside the ultimate butterfly hibernation station.
Head back down Mackenzie and duck into the United Church and be immersed in a thought-provoking immersive installation Migration Parade a multimedia gallery installation by electroacoustic sound artist, Danielle Savage, and sculptural textile artist, Alexandra Goodall by and then stop to admire bear and raven playfully teasing each other in Driftwood Dreamers by Zuzana Riha. As you head back to the centre of town your senses will be stimulated by the giant Aromatic Fungal Wheel by Isabelle Kirouac. Next up is an indoor installation in the Funeral Home Priceless by Damian John made from 215 unique handmade pieces of paper, screen printed with handmade inks and explores where we find value in how we see ourselves and others. Just around the corner at the Sugar Shack enter the courtyard and look up to experience the intricate hand-made kite Skylines by Sarah J. Spurr. Back on Mackenzie in Birch and Lace is a music and ceramic combination Flight of the Caribou by Jacqui Palmer and Doris Folkens focusing on the flight, fight and plight of the near extinct Mountain Caribou and the loss of their habitat. Emerging from this to MacKenize you will find it illuminated with Blue Lantern and Windhouse Trio by Sylvie-Roussel-Janssens.
Interspersed 
amongst this incredible art will be live roving performers. We have beautiful Owl Puppets created by Candice Roberts and operated by local performers, the incredible Circus Acts Insomniacs from Nelson, performing as the stilt walking characters, Shady Ladies as well as Spandy Andy a hilarious comedy, dance act featuring spandex!
Next venture down the Credit Union alleyway to experience the most whimsical and creative Art Allery to date, Balloons by Leah Allison. Linger in the Credit Union parking lot and wonder as the Shadow Sail Theater by Heather Dawn Sparks casts shimmering shadows all around you. Continue down the Explorer Society alleyway and look up to see giant origami inspired dragons hover overhead with How to Fold Your Dragon by Lucie Bergeron.
Venture down the Mona Skisa Alleyway, where you will find stunning portraits Flourish featuring 5 Calgary based drag queens by artist Andrew Kermack. This work explores how they view their own Drag Persona and the path that led them to where they are in their Drag Journey. Further down the alleyway is the fun and interactive A Familiar Face by Catriona Steen which inserts the viewer into a “Face-in-a-hole” hilarious comic strip.
Head up First Street to experience a further 8 art installations and performances! Including Survivor, the latest masterpiece by Kyle Thornley, Size Distortion a perfect fun photoop, Freedom of the Press featuring a giant print steam roller, and A Flock of Stitches by town legend Cathy English suspended over the Museum heritage garden.
Performing on First Street in Fable Book Parlour are Kitty & The Rooster a rock n’ roll powerhouse duo from Vancouver featuring Jodie Ponto on the stand-up cocktail drumkit and Noah Walker on electric guitar. They are known for their surf-tastic hooks, clever lyrics, and ridiculously fun shows. Finally, venture into the Traverse for an original LUNA commission by FakeKnot Productions, BLUSCRN combines video mapping technology and dance to explore contemporary themes. At 11pm, if you still have energy head to the afterparty at the Regent Pub where UFODisco will transport you to the stratosphere with cool visuals, and crazy beats.
LUNA 2022 combines roving performances with immersive installations, neo-clowning with 3D metal art, shadow puppetry with flying dragons, and traditional indigenous dance and throat singing with electronic beats and looping technology. An incredible and wondrous mash up of unique experiences, original commissions and interactive artworks. There is fun to be had by young and old, from experienced art connoisseurs to complete novices. Come out and discover Revelstoke as you have never seen it, in ways you never imagined.
