Transform surfaces and buildings into canvases and stories into experiences with this Projection Mapping Overview workshop, tailored for artists eager to break into the world of projection and digital storytelling. This session offers a foundational understanding of projection mapping—what it is, how it works, and how it can be used to create immersive public art experiences.
Participants will explore the creative and technical considerations behind site-specific projections, from concept development to final execution. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how projection is used in festivals like LUNA Fête and discover the software and hardware tools that make it possible.
This is a non-technical, demo-rich session designed to empower artists with the language and knowledge to begin planning their own projection-based work or collaborate effectively with technologists.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the core principles of projection mapping and how it differs from traditional video projection
- Learn about the production pipeline - from concepting and storyboarding to mapping and playback
- Explore the software tools commonly used in projection mapping (e.g. Mad Mapper, TouchDesigner, Resolute)
- Gain insights into projector types, lensing, surfaces, and spatial considerations
- Discover case studies from LUNA Fête and beyond that showcase the artistic potential of projection mapping
Who should attend:
Artists, muralists, designers, and producers interested in turning architecture ands surface spaces into an active storytelling medium using light and motion.
LUNA Studio: Artist Training Series
LUNA Studio is a dynamic workshop series designed to equip artists with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to create interactive, tech-driven public artworks. The program is presented by Arts New Orleans as part of LUNA Fête, New Orleans’ annual festival of light, art, and technology. This series invites creatives from all backgrounds to step into the world of digital media, immersive storytelling, and responsive environments through accessible, hands-on learning.
Led by renowned artist and educator Gabe Barcia-Colombo, each workshop demystifies cutting-edge creative technologies—such as Unity, Touch Designer, and projection mapping—while emphasizing how these tools can amplify artistic vision and public engagement. Whether participants are curious about real-time 3D design, want to integrate physical sensors into their installations, or hope to transform architecture into animated canvases, LUNA Studio offers entry points for every level of experience.
By fostering creative experimentation and skill development, LUNA Studio supports the growth of a vibrant community of artists capable of shaping the future of public art in New Orleans and beyond. These workshops not only build technical confidence but also champion the power of light and technology to connect people, tell stories, and reimagine civic space.
Arts New Orleans has a limited number of MacBook computers available for workshop participants. In your registration, please let us know if you will need access to a laptop.
Cost: $20
If the fee presents a financial difficulty, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lindsay Glatz, Arts New Orleans Creative Director at Lindsay@artsneworleans.org for scholarship consideration.
About the Instructor:
Gabe Barcia Colombo is a Los Angeles–born and New York–based interdisciplinary artist whose work spans video sculpture, immersive performance, projection mapping, augmented and virtual reality, and installation. His art explores themes of memory, identity, and the digitization of human experience—often using playful yet poignant constructs like “DNA Vending Machines,” miniature video-encoded objects, and large-scale public commissions like New York Minute (Fulton Center) and Platform (Grand Central Madison).
Awarded two TED fellowships—one for Capturing Memories in Video Art (2012) and another for My DNA Vending Machine (2014)—Gabe’s work resides in the collections of LACMA and is regularly commissioned by institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum, MTA Arts & Design, and The Neon Museum, where he served as Artist-in-Residence in 2021.
As an Associate Arts Professor at NYU Tisch’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, Gabe shares his expertise in interactive media, projection mapping, generative storytelling, and physical computing. He founded the groundbreaking pop-up gallery Bunker.nyc (later in Sotheby’s), earned Adobe and NYFA grants, and frequently leads workshops that empower artists to merge storytelling with code, sensors, and immersive technologies.
