The Art
Broward County is fortunate to have a population of one hundred and forty different nationalities. This diversity encourages cultural health in places that share languages, the arts, cuisine, access and connectivity.
The structural design, mechanics and vibration of bridges, particularly, bascule bridges are an urban love of mine. My intention is to contribute to the public space in a way that creates beautiful hues that connect to community and the local environment, leading everyone from sunrise to sunset and sunset to sunrise. In addition, specific lighting will be created based on a calendar of special events.
This will create beautiful night-scapes that will elevate the E. Clay Shaw Jr. bridge as a magnificent piece of civic art.
Bridges connect communities. Illuminating them connects people as places of sharing.
The Artist
Tracey Dear made his name in the architectural lighting design field in 1998 with a desire to use his vast knowledge of event lighting to pursue architectural projects. Having worked with some of the largest names in the music industry in the worlds most famous concert halls, Tracey turned his attention to architectural illumination.
He was approached by the City of Chicago to illuminate the bascule bridges along the Chicago’s river. With the lighting of the historic Totland Bay Pier on the Isle of Wight, Chicago’s famous Wrigley building, Zaha Hadid’s and UN Studio’s Pavilions, and Tampa’s riverwalk bridges, Tracey cemented his international reputation as one of the world’s leading architectural lighting artists.
In 2012, for the opening of the Young At Art museum in Plantation Florida, Dear used all of his talents to install an immersive experience in a cave that would encapsulate the history of art for children. With the use of lighting, projection and sound along with his talent as a recording artist, Dear created an audio and visual soundtrack which time traveled from cave paintings to modern art.
When he is not developing public art lighting installations, Tracey enjoys playing and recording mandolin and guitar with his fellow musicians the Waco Brothers. He still keeps his hand in live concert lighting with Patti Smith when she calls on him to tour.