ABOUT LUCE GROUP
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640www.lucegroup.com
ACCOMPLISHED ACCESSIBLE AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Luce Group 21 E 4th street 7th floor NYC NY 10003 www.lucegroup.com 212.330.7640
Luce Group brings new emphasis to a valuable old word: collaboration. A design partnership, started in 1997, Luce capitalizes on the combined experiences of diverse, accomplished, productive professional whose passion is to create superior spaces and settings.
What is most potent for our clients is that our group can design conventionally - but also works ahead of the curve. We have intentionally blurred the traditional boundaries of theater, live event, media, architecture, exhibition, plastic form, and illumination. We are constantly seeking out the latest in technology and, con-versely, have been sought out by manufactures to help guide the development of their new equipment.
Not only do we create the designs, we are hands-on during their installation. Each Luce partner is an on-site manager who directs the work of the related technicians and trades. We have a process we call “collaborate/challenge/cross-check,” so that every project functions smoothly, exceeds aesthetic require-ments, meets budget and schedule, and takes into account sustainability and maintenance.
We’re artist, educators, and producers. We’re international. We’re formally trained in theatrical design. We are active in the museum, theater and architecture communities and have spoken at numerous confer-ences on topics ranging from historic homes to holding events in institutions.
The company is certified as a WBE in both NY State and NY City. We recently were awarded our GSA con-tract. We are members of AAM, AASLH, IES, NAME, USGBC, USA, TEA, and NYSERDA, among others. Our client list ranges from the Smithsonian Institution to the Nantucket Historical Association, and from Performance Space 122 to Public School 119.
We’ve won our share of awards - most recently the 2010 IES DC Section Guth Award for “Moving Beyond Earth” - and have been published regularly. The Boston Globe called our museum lighting “superb.” We design, solve problems, and respond uniquely for each project. Because of this, and because we bridge "traditional” and “cutting edge,” our clients continue to return to us.
SELECTED CLIENT LISTLLUCEGROUP212/330-7640www.lucegroup.com
ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTINGCOMMERCIAL • 180commerce.com • Barrio Restaurant • Discover Today’s Motorcycling • Helpern Architects/Collegiate Church Offices • Manhattan Color Studio • Phoster Lighting • Ritz Theatre, Newburgh, NY • Senses NY • Sibling Entertainment Inc. Offices • The Penn Club • Tishman Speyer
INSTITUTIONAL • Helpern Architects/New Utrecht High School, NYC • Helpern Architects/PS 119 Library, NYC • Helpern Architecs/St. Francis College, NYC • Helpern Architects/Vernon Center, NYU, NYC • JKLD/New York Public Library, Bartos Forum • Nantucket Historical Association
LANDSCAPE • Briarcliff Manor, NY, Residence • Silvercup Studios, NY • Villanova Preparatory School, Ojai, CA
RESIDENTIAL • 60 East 8th Street Apartment Building • Area Interior Design LLC • East 21st Street, NYC, Residence • Lovejoy Durea Interior Designer • Park Avenue, NYC, Residence • Shelter Island, NY, Residence • Soho, NYC, Residence including terrace
MULTIMEDIA • Gotham Magazine Launch Party • Rosco Training Video • Trinity Productions and New Media
EXHIBIT LIGHTINGMUSEUMS/GALLERIES• Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, NY
• Hands On! Inc./Discovery Place, Charlotte, NC • KPC Experience Design/Smithsonian Institution, DC • KPC Experience Design/State Museum of Pennsylvania, PA • Lincoln Cottage/National Trust for Historic Preservation, DC • Main Street Design/Hudson Museum at Orono, ME • Nantucket Whaling Museum, MA • Neuberger Museum at SUNY Purchase, NY • New York Historical Society, NY • RAANY/Smithsonian Institution’s NMAAHC, DC • Quatrefoil/Philadelphia United States Mint, PA • Seventh Regiment Armory, NY
TRADE SHOWS/SHOWROOMS • Haddad Brands, NY • Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum/Bizbash, NY • L2 Productions/Discovery Brands, NY • Revillon, NY • Rosco/LDI, FL
EVENTS • Benson Marketing • Bronx Museum • Christian Cultural Center • Colin Cowie Lifestyle • Cornerstone Communications • FEVA - Federation of East Village Artists • Jacob & Co. • Kaplow Communications • Lifestart Inc. • Lizzie Grubman PR • Loire Valley Wine Bureau • Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture • MTV Networks Special Events • New York Housing Authority • NYC2012 • Performance Space 122
New York University Carnegie Mellon University
Traci has a parallel reputation for her varied theatrical lighting design. She is credited with lighting over 100 productions – assignments that have taken her from Broadway, Las Vegas, and regional US theaters to Scotland and Japan.
Traci is active in the museum community and has chaired or been invitedto speak on several panels at AAM, AASLH and ASTC conventions with topics ranging from exhibitry in historic homes to designing and managing events in museum spaces.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
TRACI KLAINER POLIMENI
ACCOMPLISHED AHEAD OF THE CURVE
TEACHING New School University, adjunct faculty in Lighting Design Guest professor - Lighting Design:
UMASS/Amherst
Smith College
MEMBER American Association of Museums American Association of State and Local History IES: Illuminating Engineering Society IMTAL: International Museum Theatre Alliance NAME: National Association for Museum Exhibition TEA: Themed Entertainment Association United Scenic Artists Local 829
EDUCATION MFA in Lighting Design – NYU/ Tisch School of the Arts BA – Smith College
HONORS Drama Desk Award Nomination for “Asphalt Kiss”, 2006, NYC Metrolina Theatre Award Nomination for “Pump Boys and Dinettes”, 2004, North Carolina Lucille Lortel Nomination for “Four”, 2002, NYC
SPECIALTIESMuseum, event, and entertainment lighting
PROFILEGifted in bringing life to static museum collections, Traci Klainer has lighted objects that range from motorcycles for the Guggenheim Museum in Las Vegas and at Rockefeller Center in New York, to a whale skeleton for the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Other installation work includes exhibits at the Jewish Museum, the Chelsea Art Museum, the Studio Museum in Harlem, all in New York, and both traveling and special exhibits for the Smithsonian, including the Smithsonian’s 150th Anniversary Tour.
HISTORY Co-Founder, KD & Associates [which became Luce Group], 1997 TRK Design, 1995-present Asst. to Resident Lighting Designer, Guggenheim Museum, 1997-2006 Associate/Assistant Lighting Designer on and off-Broadway, 1992-2002
APPLAUSEEntertainment DesignLighting DimensionsA+U
Numerous Las Vegas publicationsNY Times On Line Interview [with Luce partner Lauren Helpern]
Theater work reviews from around the US
THEATRICAL WEBSITE www.traciklainer.com
www.lucegroup.com
SUNY/Purchase
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
NANTUCKET WHALING MUSEUMCLIENT: NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
ARCHITECT: MARTIN SOKOLOFFEXHIBIT DESIGN: AMAZE DESIGN, INC.
CASE WORK: ART GUILD, INC.
www.lucegroup.com
The Nantucket Historical Association's Whaling Museum, which opened in June, 2005, is comprised of three buildings: a restored 1847 spermaceti candle factory, the Foulger Museum, and a new wing connecting the two. Luce Group worked with the museum staff to craft an environment that enhances the character and traditions of each building, provides a smooth transition between them, and focuses attention on the many artifacts.
The centerpiece of the museum - the skeleton of a 47'0" sperm whale - is housed in the Hunt Gallery. Luce had the challenge of designing the lighting for both a traditional exhibit and a live presentation of the whale hunt story, which involved video and theatrical effects. To accomplish this, Luce used both architectural and theatrical lighting fixtures. The latter, which were focused in unexpected ways, brought color and movement into a static museum environment.
The other galleries required standard gallery lighting for objects ranging from a giant beam press to fragile maps. Great care was taken to provided illumination that would work during the day and evening at light levels low enough for sensitive objects. Luce successfully met the museum’s challenges, creating elegant, exciting and functional lighting.
LINCOLN COTTAGELLUCEGROUP212/330-7640www.lucegroup.com
CLIENT: NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATIONARCHITECT: HILLIER ARCHITECTURE
LOCATION: WASHINGTON, DC
Lincoln Cottage was President Lincoln’s seasonal residence while he was in office and where he framed his policy on emancipation. The house has been restored to the glory of this era with contemporary infrastructure. Docents take groups on a prescribed tour route, using handheld remotes to trigger pre-programmed lighting that frames the visitor experience. Luce Group designed the period fixtures, cued the tour, and specified the control system, which is used both locally and remotely. Modern technology brings the house to life, providing enough illumination to meet current codes while remain-ing aesthetically true to the project.
!!"#$%&'"()*)+,,-./01-
2$&&3#'223 53&&6'&7#!6$829 :67#';$&< 2=>
$>=6?62 :$76%89 #3?68$2 ?&3"8.?&3@8;$8"$9 :67#';$&< 26A$7 7B"3&$
CCCDEFGHIJKFLDGKM
Over 200 artrifacts from China, including several life-size terracotta warriors, were on display at Discovery Times Square. Luce Group worked closely with the exhibit design team to tell their story. The gallery spaces, which vary significantly in height, were lit dramati-cally, highlighting the artifacts and text panels. Both track and theatrical fixtures were used. Effects, like falling leaves and oozing liquid, served as backgrounds for the famous statues. Casework was treated with different techniques, from in-case fiber optic to more traditional out-of-case lighting.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
BELL LABS TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASECLIENT & EXHIBIT DESIGN: LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER/LSC EXPERIENCE SERVICES
ARCHITECT: GENSLERLOCATION: ALCATEL/LUCENT, MURRAY HILL, NJ
www.lucegroup.com
table, in cases, and in the air - Luce’s design not only incoporated traditional gallery lighting, but also different types of in-case lighting, embedded decorative lighting. Challenges included different ceiling heights, different levels of daylight, and the need to preserve irreplace-able artifacts.
Luce Group also lit numerous drops and the gallery’s entry banners.
“The Bell Labs Technology Showcase brings to life the many brilliant inventions and discoveries made by our researchers over the past century, along with the current research that we believe will impact the way we communicate in the future.” --
Jeong Kim, President of Bell Labs
Luce Group worked with Liberty Science Center’s Experience Services Group and Gensler on the new Bell Labs Technology Showcase and adjacent conference room. The connecting spaces have floor to ceiling windows, red brick, concrete, and a new graphite-colored floating drop ceiling. Luce Group worked with the architects to specify and incorporate a track system and, for the conference room, downlights, into the ceiling. Consistent color and illumination were important for the design.
On display in the gallery space, among other artifacts, are an original Telstar satellite, the laser, the transistor, the UNIX language and proof of the big bang theory. Since the artifacts are
displayed in a number of ways - in wells in the
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
MAIN ENTRY WALL INSTALLATIONCLIENT: DISCOVERY PLACE
LOCATION: CHARLOTTE, NCwww.lucegroup.com
Luce Group worked with the Discovery Place team to create a giant LED installa-tion for their main entry and ticketing area. The shape and the content were based on the theme “emergence.”
For both the artistic vision and cost consid-erations, the team decided to use MiPix,, which is an intelligent LED pixel block. The design is low resolution, with a 1:1 ratio of used and unused space. The face of the installation is a deep red painted metal surface, chosen to withstand all types of wear and tear.
From lava lamp blobs to ladybugs, several hundred short video clips were chosen to provide over 30 minutes of content, enough to cover even an extremely long wait on the ticket line. These clips were put into an order that provided diversity of topic, style and color, with fluid transitions.
!!"#$%&'"()*)+,,-./01-
#'!'& 3'4$567&8 79: ;75<='9 >? 5'9=7 :$!7"97?
$@<=>=8 :$5=%96 8'5<=A' 3'&= 7&#<=8$#854$9"$6 #''($&.<$B=88 978='97! :$5=%9 3"5$"3
"9=8$: 5878$5 7&8 #&=8=#5 755'#=78='9 7B7&: ;'& >$58 7&#<=8$#8"&$ '& :$5=%9 5<'B
CCCDEFGHIJKFLDGKM
This exhibit on the second floor of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum was comprised mostly of light sensitive art and fabric by the great artist and designer, Sonia Delau-nay. Care was taken to high-light the artifacts without compromising them. Exist-ing track fixtures were used throughout the galleries.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
LOOK/MOVE SIGN & THE STAGECLIENT: HANDS ON! INC.
LOCATION: COOL STUFF, DISCOVERY PLACE, CHARLOTTE, NCwww.lucegroup.com
A later addition to the scope was a presentation area for group demonstrations. As the area will only be used a few times a day, the design had to incorporate several different modes: not in use, pre-presentation and presentation. Hands On! Inc. designed a wall with a geometric pattern of holes. Luce helped turn this structure into a vibrant light box with LED lights and theatrical cues, which enable it to change color and pattern. It is low maintenance and long-life, as well.
Luce also designed a simple layout of track light to illumi-nate the general stage and audience area, offering some flex-ibility of focus.
Luce Group collaborated with Hands On! Inc. on several exhibits in the new Cool Stuff gallery at Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC, a science center with the mission to engage and excite kids about the natural world.
Luce first consulted on an undulating entry sign. The goal was to find a simple way to create moving images across the multiple surfaces. Luce worked with HO! to assess their financial and artistic goals. A theatrical light fixture with a moving textured ribbon was chosen: it creates a dynamic effect while using only one metal-halide light source - a simple, energy and maintenance efficient solution.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANDS ON! INC.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONSCLIENT: LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER
LOCATION: LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER, JERSEY CITY, NJ
EXHIBIT ORIGINATED AT THE FIELD MUSEUM
www.lucegroup.com
Luce Group designed the Liberty Science Center stop of this exciting traveling exhibition, which origi-nated at the Field Museum. The exhibit tells the story of the mam-moths and mastodons, who roamed the earth approximately 1.8 million to 10,000 years ago.
Housed in a rotating gallery approximately 7500 sq/ft, the exhibit includes life-size models, fossils, artifacts, media, and inter-actives.
The lighting uses a mix of architec-tural and theatrical fixtures to high-light the artifacts and add interest to the gallery. Color and texture were used to help bring focus to the models and help tell their story. Moving fixtures generated the effects of water and the aurora borealis.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640 CLIENT & EXHIBIT DESIGN: EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A/V SYSTEM DESIGN: CEIENGINEERS: CS CONSULTING ENGINEERS
LOCATION: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, DC2010 ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA DC SECTION GUTH AWARD
www.lucegroup.com
MOVING BEYOND EARTH
Luce Group worked with Experience Design, CEI, CS Consulting Engineers, and the staff at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum on the design phase of a new presentation center within the Moving Beyond Earth exhibit hall. The centerpiece of this gallery is a stage, which is used for exhibits, presentations, and live broadcasts on the Smithsonian website.
The lighting needed to be easily adaptable. LED, conventional and automated theatrical fixtures were chosen for their flexibility of focus and range of color. Luce Group worked closely with the museum to specify a control system that could be accessed locally and remotely and that had command over the theatrical and architectural systems in the room. Energy efficiency, integration with existing track inventory, and cost were also considered.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYECLIENT: NO LONGER EMPTY
LOCATION: FORMER TOWER RECORDS STORE, NYCwww.lucegroup.com
“Never Can Say Goodbye” was an exhibit of over 20 contemporary artists in the former downtown Tower Records space. The artists, working in many different media, were inspired by memories of the store and the music of that era. The exhibit was put on by No Longer Empty, a non-profit group that creates public art exhibitions in vacated storefronts around New York City.
The challenge presented by this temporary gallery was the need to use the available lighting equipment. Fortunately, track and metal halide fixtures were abundant, though creative focusing was still necessary. The existing fluores-cent fixtures, with the exception of the entry, which needed to look more “retail,” all had deep blue gel. This made the space more exciting and allowed the track fixtures to provide the necessary illumination for the art and walkways. Clip lights were used judiciously and theatrical fixtures were brought in to light the evening performances.
Luce Group also created an installation piece out of found lighting and electrical equipment, which served the dual purpose of adding interest to the escalator and blocking the access to the second floor.
As the lighting designer for the Art of the Motorcycle at the Guggenheim Museum at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Luce Group partner Traci Klainer was responsible for lighting over 100 motorcycles in an exhibit designed by well known architect Frank Gehry. Due to the complexity of the design - large photo-realistic images, numerous display cases containing themed ephemera, randomly placed video screens and the cavernous space - the lighting required a multi-faceted approach. Using both architectural and theatrical equipment, hung at a variety of heights and angles, Ms. Klainer carved out the individual objects while tying the disparate elements together. The Gehry walls and platforms - covered in finishes ranging from bold colors to mirror - were evenly and vibrantly lit. The motorcycles, and other forms of two-wheel transportation, emerged from these backgrounds, their lines and mechanics highlighted and sparkling.
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
THE ART OF THE MOTORCYCLECURATOR: THOMAS KRENS
CURATORIAL ADVISOR: ULTAN GUILFOYLEEXHIBIT DESIGN: FRANK GEHRY
LOCATION: GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, VENETIAN HOTEL, LAS VEGAS
www.lucegroup.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
LLUCEGROUP212/330-7640
A NEW LIGHT ON TIFFANYCLIENT: NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CURATORS: MARTIN EIDELBERG, NINA GRAY, MARGARET K. HOFEREXHIBIT DESIGN: DAN SCHNUR
www.lucegroup.com
Iconic lamps, mosaics and stained glass sparkled at The New York Historical Society’s groundbreaking exhibit A New Light on Tiffany, which celebrated Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany girls. Previously unknown, these women were responsible for some of the most recognizable Tiffany patterns and many of the products and documents they created were on display.
Each gallery, painted a rich peacock blue, had a theme, from the life of the “New Woman” to the process of making a Tiffany lamp. Luce Group’s lighting seamlessly tied together objects as diverse as glass tiles, tools, clothing on manikins, a bicycle, sepia-toned photographic backdrops, framed prints, text and, of course, the many Tiffany decorative items and lamps, both standing and hanging.
The challenge was that all of the lighting – object, case and walkway – emanated from the existing inventory and track. Instrument choice and focus were precise so items glowed yet the source was unobtrusive. Light levels were appropriate for 100-year-old letters and drawings while still carving out details on ceramics and metalwork. Luce Group’s “magical” lighting made an exhibit of exquisite objects that much more enticing.
!!"#$%&'"()*)+,,-./01-
2&34$#5 45!! )-*)#!3$728 2957% 9$:7'"&+9('79'&8 ;57 #!$$< = 5&($!9
;$7"$8 7$> :'&? 5#5@$A: '< 5&2BBBCDEFGHIJEKCFJL
The 2012 Tribeca Ball, a festive interactive gala at the New York Academy of Art, was was sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels with Robert De Niro as the honored guest. The benefit took place throughout the building, with party spaces and activities interspersed among the classrooms and studios, culminating in a gala dinner.
Luce Group designed the lights to complement the event’s mask-like graphics and reflect the theme of the grand masquerade balls of the past. Color was used to great effect. Models with jewelry were lit to make the gems sparkle. Custom fixtures enhanced the bar spaces. And the dining room was cast in an evening glow.