Perry Cross to be illuminated at Griffith for Bleach* festival

A projected image from artist Craig Walsh's spectacular creation, Luminaries
A projected image from artist Craig Walsh's spectacular creation, Luminaries

No one could accuse Gold Coast identity Perry Cross of being just a face in the crowd, but he is about to become a face in the trees.

The founder of the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation will be one of several Gold Coasters whose faces become works of art thanks to Luminaries, a stunning visual experience devised by Australian and internationally renowned projection artist Craig Walsh.

Part of the 2016 Bleach* Festival which runs on the Gold Coast until March 20, Luminaries will launch at Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus on Thursday, March 10 from 6.30pm.

The free event will be best viewed from the UniBar and the lawn along Theatres Lane. The images displayed against the trees will be shown in a 40-minute rotation.

In projecting images on to illuminated areas of parks and other natural landscapes, Craig Walsh’s meticulously crafted exhibitions demonstrate art as an experience, rather than merely something hung on a wall.

Joining Perry in having their images appear in the trees at Griffith will be local figures including surfing identity Tim Baker, the city’s Chief Lifeguard Warren Young, environmental scientist Jordyn de Boer, boxing champion Gavin Topp, illusionist Arthur Coghlan and Currumbin Ecovillage co-founder Kerry Shepherd.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of events over the years, but this one will certainly be one of the most unusual and fascinating,” says Perry, who was just 19 when rendered a C2 quadriplegic after breaking his neck playing rugby.

That was more than 20 years ago and since then he has been a tireless campaigner for research into spinal cord repair, including a generous and ongoing funding commitment to Griffith University’s Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery.

“My motto is Everything is Possible and that extends from raising money to help Eskitis seek a cure for spinal cord injury, to being a work of art for a couple of hours,” says Perry.

See Luminaries at these Bleach* Festival locations:
March 10 from 6.30pm: Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus
March 12 from 6.30pm: Bleach* at Mudgeeraba, Hinterland Regional Park
March 19-20 from 6.30pm: Greenmount, Coolangatta