Specialists in large-scale digital art productions, WAVEFORM.exp turns to Digital Projection for a massive projection mapping project in downtown Denver, CO.
Residents and visitors of downtown Denver often stroll through the historic Civic Center Park, paying little attention to familiar landmarks like the courthouse or the golden-domed capitol building. However, on certain holiday weekends, as the sun sets, these monuments come to life, transforming into massive canvases for breathtaking, illuminated 3D art.
The Denver Civic Center Conservancy commissioned the illusionary specialists WAVEFORM.exp to create this mesmerizing spectacle. In turn, the WAVEFORM.exp team relied on the imaging expertise of Digital Projection and the precise color rendering and high brightness of its technology to bring the specially designed scenes to life. “Since its inception in 2020, our mission has been to merge art and technology in public spaces, transforming everyday structures into something magical and memorable, even if only for a moment,” says WAVEFORM.exp co-founder Sam Moritz. “We have found that imaging solutions from Digital Projection excel at accurately portraying the digital artform we create for these high-profile, public venues.”
An All-American Tribute to Art and Technology
One of WAVEFORM.exp’s first projects for the Civic Center took place just before the Fourth of July. The task: Create an exciting, loosely themed Independence Day narrative projected onto the elegant exterior archways and columns of the Civic Center’s iconic Greek Theatre. This city-sponsored event was open to the public and held in an outdoor space stretching 12 acres, allowing thousands of people to gather comfortably and watch as the scenery around them shifted seamlessly from one vibrant, colorful projected image to the next.
The 5-minute audio/visual show featured dozens of carefully designed 3D renders, celebrating both the holiday and the beauty of Denver and Colorado as a whole. “We crafted high-impact, attention-grabbing 3D content and used technology that works within the realm of projection mapping to stylize it specifically for the event,” says Pat Higgins, WAVEFORM.exp co-founder.
The Right Projection Rig for the Public Performance Gig
Creating unique content for Denver’s special Independence Eve event was only part of WAVEFORM.exp’s responsibilities for the celebration. “Equally important was selecting projection equipment that could deliver that content with maximum impact,” says Higgins. “The images we projected onto the Roman-style amphitheater needed to be bright, accurately reproduce color, and cover a surface spanning 188 feet across and 35 feet tall.” WAVEFORM.exp knew that a single projector couldn’t achieve this. Three Digital Projection M-Vision 23000 projectors were utilized to maintain the brightness and depth of the three-dimensional visual effects across the amphitheater. “You can have the best content in the world, but if the projector’s imaging capabilities are mediocre, the whole experience falls flat,” Moritz adds.
“Getting to The Greek” with a Trio of Digital Projection M-Vision Projectors
In an outdoor environment like this, “the sun is your worst enemy,” says Moritz. “That’s why we rely on Digital Projection.” Although the Independence Eve show was set to be presented at night, WAVEFORM.exp needed to impress the event coordinators by demoing the installation and content the night before, with their trio of matching Digital Projection M-Vision 23000 projectors.
“When the project’s key stakeholders saw the amphitheater transform into a magical, living piece of digital art, they were ecstatic. After two months of carefully designing the audio/visual show and projection system, it felt so rewarding to see it perform in person,” adds Higgins.
To protect the projectors overnight and ensure an all-weather show, WAVEFORM.exp chose to house all three units on custom-built shelving within their company van. “The compact form factor and low heat output of these projectors made this unconventional setup possible,” Moritz says.
Customer Service: The Cornerstone of Creative Imaging Expression
For optimal results and a fast, temporary installation, WAVEFORM.exp conducted all essential projection mapping calculations in advance over the course of two months, using equipment specifications provided by Digital Projection, which streamlined the installation process significantly. “When we arrived the night before the event to set up, the configuration, calibration, mapping, and precise positioning of the projectors all were complete in just four hours with little to no time to adjust the mapping during the night of the show,” Higgins recounts. With such a complex and time sensitive installation, Digital Projection was able to showcase their exceptional service and support.
The event was such a success, and the partnership between Digital Projection and WAVEFORM.exp proved so effective, that they have since collaborated on several more projection mapping projects. “DP’s hands-on customer service not only helped us get up and running quickly but also positioned us for success with several cutting-edge experiential projects in the works,” says Moritz.
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