A True Light Bulb Moment!

John L (15 June 2019)

Lighting serves a purpose in establishing a space. Too much lighting and the mood can be ruined. Likewise, too little lighting and the mood cannot only be ruined, but there are safety concerns. That's part of why businesses in the outdoor entertainment industry have lit up even what were supposed to be somewhat darkened areas.

In the context of the ideal setting (for me, it's a vapor-wave dwelling to bridge two distinct eras), the use of bold neon may appear to overwhelm the neutral shades, but it only delivers more of a surreal setting, especially if it's contrasted to black walls. That's why you feel strange in a room with mostly pitch-black walls and neon bright colors (even if this means there are no neon signs).

My favorite example of this is at a Mesa, AZ, bar called the Grid where the side room is painted black with bright orange tape forming a grid across the floor, ceiling, and walls under the subdued lighting (well, black-light). Talk about giving a second connection to the establishment's name. I mean it's trippy and it connects the elements of the nature (the vapor-wave nerd palace) of the bar with what we would expect as patrons (we are the big nerds). It reminds me of this unique diner I visited in San Diego during one of my visits, which had these decade-themed rooms ranging from the main 50's diner to the psychedelic 60's room, the 70's with disco balls, and the 80's with the, well, vapor-wave aesthetic. It also reminds me of my first trip to Walt Disney World back in 2007 because we stayed at this resort called the Pop Century Resort (we stayed in the 80's wing of the hotel), each with their own palette associated with the decades' style.

It seems as if we associate certain colors and lighting to a certain place and time. I can't help, but think of the lanterns in Cracker Barrel as being representative of lighting from a long, long time ago before electricity took off, especially in towns. I can't help thinking about how candlelight has long been the tradition and that some of the greatest works of antiquity up to the early 1900's were written with the aide of candlelight.

So what do you think? Do you also associate gas lamps with cities on the eve of electricity? Do you also believe color is a powerful tool in defining an experience or an environment, even if it's subtle enough not to notice?