Walk In Light Sculpture to combat winter blues from James Yamada

copyright of James Yamada, Courtesy of Parasol unit foundation

American artist James Yamada will create a dramatic installation entitled The summer shelter retreats darkly among the trees, the first artwork in Parasolstice – Winter Light; a series of outdoor projects at Parasol Unit. During the darkest months of the year, visitors will be encouraged to enjoy the health benefits of exposure to bright light by sitting inside the sculpture.

The aluminium structure of the installation shelters visitors from bad weather. Integrated into its roof are light elements at 10,000 lux, the light intensity commonly used in light therapy to treat the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

James Yamada, born 1967 in North Carolina, USA, now lives and works in New York.

His recent solo exhibitions include Unless I dream of one tonight, Raucci/Santamaria Gallery, Naples, Italy, 2010; Our Starry Night, Tramway, The Hidden Garden, Glasgow, UK, 2009; and Our Starry Night, The Public Art Fund, New York, USA, 2008. Group exhibitions include: Linguaggi e sperimentazioni. Giovani artisti in una collezione contemporanea, MART Museum, Rovereto, Italy, 2010; Idiot Joy Showland, CAC – Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, USA, 2008; Out of art, Centre PasquArt, Biel, Switzerland, 2007; and Greater New York, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island, USA, 2005.

James Yamada The summer shelter retreats darkly among the trees 23rd November 2011 – 12th February 2012 Art Opening Tuesday 22nd November 2011
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art

Parasolstice will feature international artists, each of whom will create sculptural works which address the phenomenon of light. The works will be exhibited throughout the winter months in the foundation’s outdoor space, which will be open to the public free of charge.

First identified in 1984, SAD affects people in various regions of the world where, especially during the winter months, a lack of sunlight can cause depression, loss of energy and sleep deprivation. Exposing an individual to certain wavelengths of full spectrum light is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to be a highly beneficial treatment for SAD.