Dancing lights: Jen Lewin’s interactive ‘Aqueous’ illuminating OKC outside Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Once the golden hues of the Oklahoma sunset faded to deep blue twilight, the vivid shades of pink, red, orange, purple, blue and green began to flash under the feet of adults and children frolicking in Campbell Art Park.

Since opening last month outside the new Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center, New York City-based artist Jen Lewin’s light installation “Aqueous” has beckoned people to stroll, dance or play along its winding interactive pathways — and hundreds have accepted the invitation.

“It is a joy to experience. I personally have enjoyed just watching people engage with it and the smiles, the laughter, the joy. It’s beautiful to see, particularly in a time like this,” said Oklahoma Contemporary Artistic Director Jeremiah Matthew Davis.

“To me there’s perhaps no better artwork built for a pandemic: It’s installed outside, it is interactive but you interact with it with your feet, it’s huge so there’s plenty of space for people to enjoy and experience it.”

Part of the inaugural “Bright Golden Haze” exhibition on view inside Oklahoma Contemporary’s new 54,000-square-foot home on Automobile Alley, “Aqueous” reflects the sky, the audience and the surrounding environment during the day, much like the building’s “Folding Light” concept designed by Oklahoma City’s Rand Elliott Architects.

At night, though, is when Lewin’s cleverly engineered pathway really shines.

“I wanted to create this environment that inspires the playing of games and inspires people to … collaborate and participate with others. Really, that’s the core kind of sentiment for my part, and I’m creating this light environment that can sort of explore that,” Lewin said in a phone interview from her Brooklyn studio.

“I’m originally a dancer and I wanted to dance with people. I didn’t want to just make a stagnant sculpture. I wanted to make a sculpture that danced and people danced with.”