What started in 2019 as a one-off, short-term, open-air art installation on a rolling piece of land in Paso Robles, California proved so popular that it’s now an annual event. Originally called Field of Light at Sensorio, the brainchild of artist Bruce Munro (who has created similar large-scale light-based works elsewhere) is now called Light at Sensorio following the installation of new towers of light generated by putting the artist’s signature fiber-optic lights into empty wine bottles which is fitting in this wonderful central coast wine region. This newly expanded outdoor art extravaganza is open to the public now through September 5, 2022.
Here are our favorite shots from Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California.
The massive light installation is made up of nearly 60,000 solar-powered fiber-optic “flowers” that change color.
As the sun begins to set the fiber-optic lights appear to be white, but that soon changes.
Pro tip: Arrive at the start of your reserved time slot so that you can be on-site in the dusky hours so you can enjoy and photograph the installation while there’s still some ambient light in the sky before full darkness.
More than 145,000 people visited the installation in its first season.
The Light at Sensorio installation covers 15 acres.
Light at Sensorio is British artist Bruce Munro’s largest international installation to date and his first in the United States.
The new Towers of Light installation includes 69 six-foot-tall towers.
The fiber-optic lights change color in time to classical music.
Walking paths wind through the light-filled sloping land with benches along the way.
It takes more than 300 miles of cable to operate all those fiber-optic lights.
Nighttime temperatures in Paso Robles can dip even in summer, so bring layers for this outdoor experience.
The walking path through the Light at Sensorio installation covers about a half-mile, but you’ll likely walk around a few times so wear comfortable shoes.
More than 20 workers spent six weeks installing the original Field of Light at Sensorio.
This installation is in the middle of a premier Central California wine region and local wine is sold along with food.
The fiber-optic flowers have a soothing, almost hypnotic effect as they pulse and change color.
Though you know that the field of flowers is the product of technology, it does seem to be alive at times.
Light at Sensorio has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paso Robles, California.
VIP tickets include access to an elevated terrace with seating, restrooms, an Airstream bar, fireside tables, heaters, and views over the exhibition.
Each of the 69 Towers of Light contains 252 wine bottles filled with fiber-optic lights…
…–that’s 17,388 wine bottles in total.
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