Patchogue To Host MOCA L.I.ghts Pop-Up This Weekend

PATCHOGUE, NY — Visitors to Patchogue's MOCA L.I.ghts installation last month might have been a little disappointed when one of its main locations — the United Methodist Church — was quite dark.

A laser inside of the special projector used to show moving and lighted images on the building's facade malfunctioned making it impossible for the display to go on through the weekend. It had rained the first night of the show, and even though the projectors are supposed to be waterproof, it's hard to tell if the water caused the malfunction, Patchogue Arts Council President Lori Devlin said.

A laser burned out on the Friday night, and the company that supplys the projectors was unable to secure another one for the weekend.

But not to worry, the arts council has brought the installation back as a pop-up event, showing the work of artist Amanda Reilly, at the United Methodist Church for this weekend only.

It runs through Sunday.

"It's just kind of an exciting visual experience," Devlin said. "I hope that when we do it next year, people will come and see it."

MOCA L.I.ghts typically runs over a weekend in the fall and includes moving art installations at local landmarks like the Carnegie Library, the Patchogue-Medford Library, the Bank of America, and the Industrial Coverage building. It's funded with grant money.

"It's really unique, and it's not being done anywhere in the immediate vicinity," Devlin said. "But these festivals are happening around the world."

Devlin said she was first turned on to the idea after reading about the annual festival that is held in Berlin.

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