Holiday projections set to light up Patchogue Village

If you think “Artchitecture,” the stunning MoCA L.I.ights projections on five of Patchogue’s historic and well-known buildings dazzling viewers at night from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8 is over, think again.

The success of the unusual art show projections were such a hit that the Greater Patchogue Chamber executive director David Kennedy has asked Patchogue Arts Council executive director and MoCA L.I.ights guru curator Beth Giacummo-Lachacz to collaborate on a holiday theme for the weekend of December 12.

Giacummo-Lachacz credited Viper Studios Inc., for the compelling Artchitecture displays. Viper be collaborating on the holiday theme as well. “They design for stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and work with non profits,” Giacummo-Lachacz said.

“This is Long Island’s first projection event.”

Kennedy said the Alive After Five Winter Wonderland and Midnight on Main gatherings had been famously-attended holiday staples, but not this year.

“Obviously they’re considered non essential events and can’t we create events of more than 50 people coming together, so we were in the spot of what do we do to bring people downtown this holiday season?”

Kennedy said Legis. Rob Calarco had been helping the village obtain a substantial grant from the hotel/motel tax for cultural events. “But the money isn’t tied to that.”

Kennedy said the grant money has to be utilized or it’s gone for that year.

“I think we’re looking at Capital One Plaza for a choreographed light show to get visitors and residents into a good mood to get them to shop and go to restaurants, so it would possibly be Friday and maybe Thursday as well,” Kennedy said of the Dec. 12 weekend. “Our social media page blew up with the Moca L.I.ights displays and people discovered something magical and unique. The buildings were phenomenal, there were so many people going to each building.”

Giacummo -Lachacz commented on the projections.

“The first one was at the Patchogue-Medford Library, it was done inside as opposed to on the building,” she said. “The marine supply building, that piece was based on the Great South Bay. The artist consulted with the Cornell Cooperative Center to make sure animated marine life displayed were native to the Great South bay. Also an app provided fish facts, playbaybingo.com. Then you have Carnegie Library with the Carnival Love Wall with animated architecture. The Industrial Coverage Corp. on South Ocean Avenue has work from an extremely know contemporary artist, and we got permission to map Smash from the Brooklyn Museum to the arched windows. It’s a on woman dancing in high heels, who kicks glass to break the glass ceiling. There’s also the front of ArtSpace where we mapped out various works from local artists. Also on top of the Roe Walkway by St. Joseph’s College administration building.”

Also Art on the Marquis at the Patchogue Theatre.

“Beth has had this vision for some years but it’s wonderful it came together for this year,” added Kennedy. “It’s really tailor made for COVID distancing and it’s not attracting huge crowds at one time.”

Giacummo-Lachacz is a member of the holiday committee.

“When we she mentioned that the people involved with this were the creators involved with Saks Fifth Avenue by the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, it was a no-brainer,” Kennedy said. “Now we have a focal point. No one else is doing this and it’s an example of Patchogue being an innovator.”