Collaborators:
- O, Miami
- Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC)
- Mario 'The Maker' Cruz
- Moonlighter FabLab
The Opa Locka Light District project, a winner of a Public Space Challenge grant from the Miami Foundation, uses specially-designed outdoor projectors created by Mario 'The Maker' Cruz and Moonlighter FabLab. Besides displaying original short poems written by local Opa-Locka students and residents, the lamps also add additional illumination to the streetscape with the goal of increasing pedestrian safety.
The poems were gathered by O, Miami through workshops in Opa-locka community centers and schools. They can be found projected onto the walls and sidewalks of several buildings including the Hurt Building, the City of Opa-locka municipal building, La Granja Grocery Store, and others. Each one addresses topics of light, democracy, public safety, transportation, and infrastructure.
This project exemplifies how technology and art can come together to serve communities, bringing poetry into public spaces while also addressing practical needs like street lighting and pedestrian safety.