Chauvet delivers the ‘art of symmetry’
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“As we headed into spring and summer, we wanted to create a fresh environment on stage,” said Lehman, the church’s lighting designer. “Our previous stage rig had been up since December of 2022, so we felt it was time to give our space something new. To do this, we wanted to try something fresh and different. This led us to the asymmetrical design.
“We know how to do beautiful symmetrical clean looks,” continued Lehman. “We also realised that it would be more challenging to do an asymmetrical design that felt purposeful and intentional. So, we embraced this challenge; our goal was to bring something different to the world of church stage design.”
Leading a design team that included Brandon Rees, Jess Jones, Michael Montanari, Scott Boers, Audrey Williams, 317 Productions, and a group of dedicated volunteers, Lehman was able to achieve this vision with an asymmetrical rig that draws in worshippers, making them feel welcomed and engaged, while at the same time defying expectations with its irregular fixture configurations and video wall.
Adding depth, texture, colour, and movement to this distinctive design was a lighting rig supplied by JRLX Inc. (with some help from E2i Design) that was anchored by a collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures. Featured in this group were 16 Maverick Force S Spot movers, eight Color STRIKE M motorised strobes, six Rogue R3X Washes, eight COLORado PXL Bar 16 battens, eight COLORado Solo battens, and 16 Rogue R2X Wash units.
The Maverick and Color STRIKE M fixtures are flown on five overhead truss fingers. These structures are angled in an irregular diagonal patten that is oriented to complement the large asymmetrical video wall.
“Going with the idea of the overall design being asymmetrical, we wanted an irregular lighting rig,” said Lehman. “Our LED wall is angled as is our overhead truss structure, which is made up of three 20ft sticks, one 30ft stick, and one 35ft stick.”
The Maverick Force S Spot fixtures are “the primary driving factor of the lighting design,” says Lehman. Arranged linearly along the truss fingers, the 350-watt cool white spot with an eight-slot colour wheel, opens the opportunity to create a wide range of unique looks. “The versatility of these fixtures has been impressive,” said Lehman. “Plus, they’re lightweight, which makes it easy to put a lot of other fixtures on the truss with them.”
Also flown on those truss fingers, primarily toward the upstage end are eight Color STRIKE M units. These fixtures fill a variety of roles, being used for colour washes, blinders and special effects. “Like the Force S Spot, The Color STRIKE gives us flexibility in creating looks.” Said Lehman. “We also have our or PXL Bar 16 to accent the stage and the Rogue R2X Washes on two 20-foot sticks to give us even more versatility, as well as the COLORado Solo battens and R3X Washes as the floor package.”
It is this versatility that Lehman appreciates most about his asymmetrical rig. “Our new rig aids the creative process, making it easier for us to come up with fresh new looks that are bold, organic, and unique,” he says.
