Guidestar
An new artwork by Mendi + Keith Obadike
On Friday, March 14 at 7:30PM over 30 laser beams will shine from the top of the Space Needle for an evening of cosmic exploration and wonder.
GuideStar draws inspiration from astronomical guide stars—laser systems used in observatories to create artificial stars. Mendi + Keith: GuideStar features an array of vibrant, primary-colored laser beams projected into Seattle's night sky. The beams are complemented by slow-moving, ambient music that surrounds the Space Needle, creating an immersive experience.
The installation transforms the Space Needle, Seattle's iconic landmark, and its surrounding environment into a dynamic canvas of light and sound, inviting viewers to reconnect with the night sky and each other through a shared sensory journey. This artwork is commissioned by Wa Na Wari and supported by Cornell University's Mui Ho Center for Cities.
"GuideStar is our offering of light and sound to the Seattle community,” said Mendi and Keith Obadike. “The radiant, two-hour presentation of original music and laser beams transforms the night sky into a space of enchantment. We're proud to partner with the visionary arts center Wa Na Wari, the Seattle Center, and the iconic Space Needle. We hope GuideStar can be a beacon for human connection, wonder, and discovery. We borrowed our title "guide star" from astronomy, where lasers help scientists see the stars more clearly. We believe artworks can do something similar, allowing us to see ourselves and our surroundings with greater clarity. Through this piece, we honor our shared search for insight and celebrate the inner light that guides and uplifts others. GuideStar invites us to both seek and offer clarity—to guide one another while remaining open to guidance, ourselves.”
Mendi + Keith: GuideStar at the Space Needle
Friday, March 14
Show begins at 7:30PM and ends at 9:30PM
Tickets to the event are free and entrance into the After-Party is $250.
Seattleites are invited to watch the installation from Seattle Center’s International Fountain Lawn starting at7:30pm, but the installation will be visible from around the city.
Audio will be simulcast on this webpage - Check back for link.
“We are so excited to host GuideStar and watch Mendi + Keith’s artistic vision come to life,” said Randy Coté, Chief Marketing Officer at the Space Needle. “GuideStar is a shining example of how art can illuminate our world. We can’t wait to share this experience with Seattle as the winter season ends, and we are grateful to Wa Na Wari for proposing this amazing collaboration.”
ABOUT WA NA WARI:
Sited in a fifth-generation, Black-owned home, Wa Na Wari is an immersive community art project that reclaims Black cultural space and makes a statement about the importance of Black land ownership in gentrified communities. Our mission is to create space for Black ownership, possibility, and belonging through art, historic preservation, and connection. Referred to as a "container for Black joy,” Wa Na Wari incubates and amplifies Black art and belonging while providing a safe space for organizing and movement building. By renting a house from a vulnerable Black homeowner, and giving that space back to the Black community, Wa Na Wari is an active model for how Black art and culture can combat gentrification and displacement.
Website: wanawari.org
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/wanawariseattle
On Instagram: @wanawariseattle
Wa Na Wari is located at 911 24th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122. Phone: (206) 485-7563
ABOUT SPACE NEEDLE:
Built as the centerpiece and inspiration for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the Space Needle has since become a part of the Seattle experience and the globally-recognized icon for the city. The Space Needle’s recent $100 million renovation added more than 176 tons of glass to the structure offering unparalleled views of Seattle and features The Loupe—the world’s first revolving glass floor. Open year round, the Space Needle hosts more than a million visitors per year. For more information visit: spaceneedle.com/press
ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER:
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts and family gathering place in the core of our region. More than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations that reside on the grounds, together with a broad range of public and community programs, create thousands of events on the 74-acre campus and attract over 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities.
