ARTIST SPOTLIGHT - TREEFLECTION 

Full interview with Portland Winter Light Festival 
Amy Meyer / Forrest Grenfell / Jacob Highlanden
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What’s your background, tell us about more about your voyage into light based art?
Forrest: My background is as a designer, musician, and visual artist. My recent work is often focused on using design as a means to creatively engage with people outside of the gallery and “high-brow” art world; in this sense projection-mapping has become a major focus of my artistic practice due to its vibrant, eye-catching nature.
Amy: My background is in art and design. Ranging from printmaking to motion graphics, and even fashion design, I’m always looking for more disciplines to explore. For me, learning motion graphics and projection-mapping within the past couple years has opened up a lot of creative possibilities and has given me the chance to explore forms and approaches beyond 2D design.
Jacob: Everyone has a favorite sense. For me it has always been sight. When I would go to see live music I noticed that all my memories were formed around the visual aspects of the performance. In my mind I would visualize the music as more than just invisible waves but as an interactive landscape of light. I began working on projection mapping and custom LED fixtures as a way to put what I was seeing in my mind into the real world.

What can we expect to see at the PWLF, and what surprises do you have for us? 
A&F: We’ll be using nature as our canvas to create an immersive, light-based installation — using projection-mapping and reflective materials to bring you a playground of light. As part of our artistic practice thrives on spontaneity, we believe we'll end up having a few surprises for ourselves as well!
J: Forrest and Amy have a level of artistic ability I will never be able to match. What I am able to bring is the technical understanding of emerging technologies to facilitate the realization of Forrest's and Amy's artistic vision.

What are you currently working on outside of the PWLF?
A: Since recently graduating from PNCA, I’ve been doing design work in Old Town, some freelance projects, and engaging with the Portland design and fashion communities. 
F: As a recent graduate from PNCA, I'm currently splitting my time as a freelance designer, composer, and performer in Portland-local groups Gold Casio and Adventure Galley. 
J: The integration of technology and fashion by integrating sensors, computers, lights and batteries into wearable items.

Finally, why are you most excited about being part of the Portland Winter Light Festival?
A: I’m looking forward to collaborating and creating something the community can experience. 
F: It'll be awesome to see all the diverse ways in which artists interpret the festival's theme as well as a means to connect and interact with the local light-based art community.
J: To showcase what is possible to a larger audience in the hopes it sparks other to express themselves in new in creative ways.

We hope to see you February 1-4!