Friday, August 20, 2021
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium Wild Illuminations
Over 550 guests gathered in tropical style for the premiere of The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium's Wild Illuminations Exhibit and Gala on Friday, August 13.
Entering the village, large-scale lantern installations, featuring a one-hundred-foot dragon, as well as mythical Asian animals, set the stage for what was to come. Live performances by dancers and a steel drum band entertained guests as they dined on delectable Asian-inspired treats from local restaurants and the Taste, the Zoo's catering company.
As dusk descended, over 45 towering silk and steel sculptures illuminated the paths through the Zoo, encompassing three themes, the Zoo, our global species conservation partnerships, and Asian culture.
Throughout the journey, performances and artists from the Organization of Chinese Americans and the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania were featured.
The construction of the lanterns on site began in mid-July with a team of ten artists from the Chinese company TIANYU. The artist created the lanterns by stretching brightly colored silk over steel frames illuminated inside with LED light. The majestic creations are no less than phenomenal.
This is the Pittsburgh Zoo as you have never seen it and an opportunity that cannot be missed. The Asian Lantern Festival continues through October 30.
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