Tampa’s Water Street is featuring two free art installations in October

TAMPA — In a pitch-black space at Sparkman Wharf, hundreds of LED lights illuminate as you move past them, sometimes making chirping sounds, giving the effect of a living being.

“Dune” is an immersive installation created by Netherlands-based Studio Roosegaarde. It responds to motion and sound, so it truly is interactive; you’ll find yourself talking to it, snapping or clapping and waving your arms like a conductor to get it to respond. No two experiences are the same.

Strategic Property Partners, the developers of Water Street Tampa, commissioned Studio Roosegaarde for its Arts in Motion program for fall. “Dune” is on display through Oct. 29 and, later this month, the studio’s exhibit “Waterlicht” will pop up on Water Street.

“Part of our ethos at Water Street Tampa is making downtown Tampa more of an arts and culture destination,” said vice president of marketing Gabby Soriano. “The Arts in Motion event is all about bringing internationally renowned artists to Tampa for the public to enjoy work.”

CASS Contemporary, the exclusive art curator for Strategic Property Partners, made the connection with Daan Roosegaarde to bring his team of designers and engineers to Tampa.

“When people think of art these days, the first thing they think of is all the beautiful murals and paintings, but what’s really caught on in the last few years is digital art and technological art,” said Tobin Green of CASS. “So we really thought that this would be a great opportunity to bring that kind of vibe here to Tampa.”

“Dune” makes its first return to the United States in Tampa since its American debut in 2009. It’s been on display 25 times throughout Europe, Asia and Canada.

“Waterlicht” will come to Tampa Oct. 27-29. Water Street will be closed to traffic and scaffolding will be installed on either end to create a black box, where projected light and fog will mimic the feeling of being underwater.

On Studio Roosegaarde’s website, “Waterlicht” is described as “a dream landscape about the power and poetry of water.” It’s meant to be a “virtual flood” to show how high the water level could get due to climate change.

What to know before you go to “Dune” and “Waterlicht”

“Dune” is located in a space next to Splitsville at Sparkman Wharf. Visit starting at 11 a.m. Thursday-Sunday through Oct. 29. 615 Channelside Drive. While reservations aren’t necessary to see “Dune,” they are for “Waterlicht,” which is also free. Reserve your spot at waterstreettampa.com.