Jen Lewin is a designer and installation artist who works to create interactive pieces with a common motif of playing with light. In 1974, Lewin was born in Boulder Colorado, she attended a local elementary school where she was introduced to primitive coding practices in the third grade. where she was trained in classical ballet before studying architecture at the nearby University of Colorado campus.

Lewin began to explore an intersection between these disciplines through her work on the Light Harp project. These public installations projected “strings” of light which, when broken, play a sound at a nuanced volume and frequency. Because of their invisible nature in daylight, many are intiaill surprised when walking into her playful trap, before turning back around and engaging with it more. This activity sparks the attention of curious bystanders, who are pulled into the piece and join an impromptu, dadaist symphony for those passing by to hear.

I am drawn to how Lewin talks of her work, and how those who interact with it interact with the piece, which actually allows them to communicate with others that are playing with the piece. I am fascinated by how quickly her work is able to suddenly open up a side of people that is so vulnerably human and playful. Kids and adults alike interacted with the piece, too filled with wonder to engage in any kind of judgement.

The presentation that Lewin gave on her work was really well done, where she was able to keep a controlling, yet conversational tone with the audience leading up to an open Q&A. I think she communicated her ideas articulately, and her ability to do so while simultaneously queueing videos, action shots, and process photographs contextualized everything nicely.

Jen Lewin