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GLT Datebook: Dennis French Illuminates Inspiration

A section of the University Galleries is aglow with the latest works of Dennis French.

Illuminants 2015 - 17 features sculptures that incorporate light.  The works function as art, but are also quite useful as ambient lighting -- beautiful, graceful lighting.  This isn't the first time French has combined lighting with sculpture, but recent technological innovations have helped him achieve something entirely new. Using LED's, French started making some prototypes.

"I was trying to figure out what would work best for what I wanted to do as lenses," said French.  "Lenses meaning the material that would actually take the light, diffuse it and make it into the lamp that it is.  And that was always the issue in the past. If you don't want to use a traditional lampshade, you have to come up with these creative ideas on how to diffuse that light."

French incorporated LED ribbon light -- the kind contractors might use for under cabinet lighting -- to create illumination within his works.  Then, he introduced laminated shoji paper to use as the diffusing lens. The works have dynamic lines and emit alluring, atmospheric light.  The show is currently up and continues through August. 9.  

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Reporter, content producer and former All Things Considered host, Laura Kennedy is a native of the Midwest who occasionally affects an English accent just for the heck of it. Related to two U.S. presidents, Kennedy appalled her family by going into show business.