How do you celebrate something as ephemeral as light? In Seattle, that question sparked a bold answer: BOREALIS, a first-of-its-kind U.S. festival that fuses light art, music, street performance, and technology to create immersive experiences. It’s more than an art show — it’s a global competition that transforms cityscapes into storyscapes, where landmark architecture becomes the canvas for artists from around the world.
The inaugural BOREALIS festival needed to make a powerful first impression. Organizers set their sights high — taking over Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) with dazzling projection-mapped animations. But to bring these ambitious visuals to life at scale, they needed a technical partner who could handle high-end video mapping on a structurally complex building — and support the creative vision with flawless execution.
That’s where Bluewater came in. Partnering with Maxin10sity and Modern Enterprises, Bluewater took on the critical role of engineering the projection and playback system for the event. This included:
- Designing and configuring projection systems to suit MOHAI’s architectural contours
- Providing the necessary high-powered hardware to ensure crystal-clear image quality
- Delivering on-site technical support to manage run-of-show and troubleshoot in real time
Together, the team worked to turn the museum’s façade into a luminous, dynamic canvas — one that pulsed with color, story, and life.
When the lights came on, the impact was immediate. Thousands filled the streets as the museum’s walls exploded with motion and sound. Live music mixed with street art and the glow of light installations. The city stood still as architecture became animation, and buildings became storytellers. It wasn’t just a show — it was a transformation.
Over the course of four nights, BOREALIS welcomed over 65,000 registered guests, with total estimated attendance exceeding 120,000. The festival made its mark as a world-class cultural event, lighting up not just the Seattle skyline — but the imaginations of everyone who witnessed it.
In its debut year, BOREALIS proved that art, technology, and community can come together to reshape how we experience the world around us. For Bluewater, it was an honor to help translate artistic vision into unforgettable reality. Because when light becomes the medium, the possibilities are endless.
