BLINK®, illuminated by ArtsWave, is the largest light, art and culture event of its kind in the nation, October 10-13. The event will span 30-city blocks from Northern Kentucky’s Covington neighborhood, across the river, through Downtown Cincinnati and into Over-the-Rhine and the Findlay Market neighborhood.
BLINK will transform the Cincinnati Region into an outdoor art phenomenon with 100 installations including large-scale projection mappings, murals, and interactive light sculptures and art (projection mapping is the art of turning unusual or irregularly shaped objects – such as buildings – into a video projection surface. Using specialized software, the artist is able to make the space come alive with animations, optical illusions and notions of movement).
Free and open to the public, BLINK is produced by The Agar, ArtWorks, Brave Berlin, the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
BLINK ART & LIGHT INSTALLATIONS
BLINK will feature 39 projection mappings, 45 interactive installation locations and 16 new murals. A total of 100 installations will be featured at BLINK.
BLINK FUTURE CITY SPECTACULAR PARADE, PRESENTED BY SKYLINE CHILI
The BLINK Future City Spectacular Parade will kick-off the BLINK art, light and culture event, Oct.10, 7:30 p.m. The Parade will move south on Vine Street in Downtown Cincinnati, from Eighth Street to Rosa Parks and Freedom Way at The Banks. The 2019 Parade grand marshal will be Jean-Robert de Cavel, world-renowned chef and humanitarian. 3,200 individuals and 85 groups are scheduled to participate.
BLINK ENTERTAINMENT
A diverse line-up of more than 80 entertainers was also unveiled. BLINK will feature entertainment, all four days, throughout the event. The line-up includes a free Saturday night concert by national recording artist Grouplove, presented in partnership with the Kroger Wellness Your Way Festival and Corporex.
Other featured acts include Redfoo, Pomegranates, Dudley Taft, Ernie Johnson from Detroit, The Cincinnati Opera, Willie Jones, Sun Seeker, Bendigo Fletcher, Young Heirlooms, Telehope, Rob Fetters, Harbour, Jess Lamb, JSPH, Carriers, Maria Carrelli, All Seeing Eyes, Lauren Eylise, Multimagic, Elementz, Dinosoul, Cincinnati Music Accelerator Buskers and many more.
For the full schedule, visit www.BLINKcincinnati.com.
HOW TO BLINK: TOP FIVE TIPS
1. DON’T BLINK & DRIVE
BLINK is not designed as a “drive-thru” event. It is meant to be enjoyed outside of a vehicle. Attendees are urged to make the most of public transit and find parking on the blocks and neighborhoods surrounding the event site (not in the event site) – including METRO park-and-ride locations at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati State and Northern Kentucky University.
BLINK is designed around the Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar route, which will remain open during the event. – and will be free to ride after 4 p.m. during BLINK’s four nights of light, thanks to the generosity of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
The BLINK experience will be even more enjoyable if attendees arrive before the event opens at 7 p.m. Find more helpful tips and street closure info at www.BLINKcincinnati.com.
2. PLAN YOUR VISIT
Review installations before the event, plan for multiple days (there’s too much to see in just one night), get a hotel, create a glow outfit, find your comfy shoes, gather your crew, make a reservation to enjoy Cincinnati’s world-class food scene, and know where hospitality areas and light beacons are throughout the event. Planning a BLINK experience is as easy as going to “Plan Your Visit” at www.BLINKcincinnati.com.
3. GET CONNECTED
View the event map, see art previews, plan your route, and more by downloading the official BLINK app from the Apple App or Google Play stores – and follow BLINK on social media.
·Facebook: @blinkcincinnati
·Twitter: @BLINKcincy
·Instagram: @blinkcincinnati
Carry-along maps will also be available at the event.
4. PICK A ZONE & GO
BLINK is comprised of five neighborhood zones:
·Covington Zone
·P&G Banks Zone
·Fifth Third Bank Foundation Downtown Zone
·The Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust OTR Zone
·Findlay Market Zone
BLINK has no one correct place to start. Find each zone with the BLINK app, the BLINK Zone Map or by following the high-shining beacon located in each zone. Then, follow the lights from installation to installation. To see all the zones, please plan to visit on multiple nights. Hospitality areas are located throughout the event to recharge, enjoy food and drinks, use public restrooms and more.
BLINK is free and open to everyone – and the route is fully accessible to people living with different abilities. The best accessible drop-off points for BLINK are:
·Findlay Market Zone- McMicken and Liberty
·OTR Zone – Liberty and Central Parkway
·Downtown Zone – Central Parkway, Second Street, Third Street, Sixth Street, Seventh Street
·The Banks Zone – Freedom Way, Mehring Way, Second Street, Third Street
·Covington – All streets along the route will remain open
The Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar has accessible seating, and is free for all to ride after 4 p.m., October 10-13.
5. TAKE PAUSE; TOGETHER
The streets of Covington and Cincinnati will be alive with energy during BLINK. Allow yourself a moment of awe and enjoy a shared moment of art and light with a united community. Welcome those visiting the region, say hello to one million of your neighbors and be proud of your future city.
NEW FOR 2019. DAYTIME PROGRAMMING
Enjoy the Cincinnati region before the sun sets. Learn more about BLINK, explore Architects of Air, enjoy local attractions or take in the regional art scene. Learn more at www.BLINKdaytimeguide.com.
BLINK WALKING TOURS
BLINK®, in partnership with B&H Photo Video, will host free photo walks for the BLINK community to sharpen their street art photography skills during afternoon and evening hours as BLINK’s murals come to life. Registration is now open for walks in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood, Oct. 10 & 11, and in Covington, Kentucky, Oct. 12 & 13.
Download the official BLINK app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Then use suggested self-guided walking routes, presented by UC Health, to explore BLINK’s 30 blocks of light, art and wonder. All routes end at BLINK hospitality areas, where you’ll find seating, restrooms, food, beverage, entertainment, VIP tents and more.
Artswave is offering guided walking tours, October 10-13 – on a first come first serve basis. Five tours will focus on blink’s projection mappings and art installations. A sixth will feature the new murals being created for BLINK. For times, prices and availability, please visit www.Artswave.org/tours. Proceeds will benefit more than 100 organizations and arts projects, like blink, and others that help drive overall economic vibrancy of the region.
ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE. VIP TICKET PACKAGES
See BLINK in a whole new way. Get exclusive BLINK merchandise, drink tickets, unique access to the BLINK hospitality areas and Future City Light Spectacular Parade, and much more. Visit shop.BLINKcincinnati.com to order your BLINK VIP Ticket Package.
GEAR UP. OFFICIAL BLINK ®MERCHANDISE
Make sure to get your BLINK® t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, bags, stickers and more. Order now at shop.BLINKcincinnati.com.
BLINK 2019 by the numbers
·October 10-13
·4 nights
·7-11 p.m. each night
·5 zones
·30 city blocks, 2 states, 1 river
·100 installations will be featured at BLINK
The BLINK installations will be created by 90 artists or artist groups
Artists represent 12 nations and 15 U.S. states
50 artists/artist groups are from the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region
39 projection mappings will be created (nearly double the amount of 2017), curated by Brave Berlin
50% of projection mapping installations are either led by or exclusively produced by female artists
45 interactive installation locations will be created curated by ArtWorks
42% of the interactive installation locations are either led by or produced by female artists
16 new murals will be created, curated by The AGAR
The new murals join the 9 created for BLINK in 2017
39% of the mural projects are either led by or produced by female artists
3,200 individuals will participate in the BLINK Future City Spectacular Parade
85 groups will participate in the Parade
55 groups are brand-new to the Parade
7 marching bands from around the region will participate in the Parade