Rundle Lantern

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and watch as the animation gets played on the lantern!

It’s hardly Times Square but it’s a start and I wonder how quick the Adelaide City Council would be to grant others’ development permission to do something along the same lines. I feel it’s highly unlikely.
Yes it does add colour and interest to a dull corner and is noticed at night, especially during special events like New Years Eve and the Fringe. But apart from those times it’s not very interesting during the day.
The most beneficial and important function it has performed is that it has stopped people from jumping off committing suicide. This could have been done at a much lower financial cost… where were the North Adelaide residents when you need them to complain… as it’s their rate money too!
And much like The Green Lantern… it’s another flop which sounded good at the time.

Meh. It’s okay I guess, it does brighten up the crossing intersection and the corners of Rundle and Pulteney St (because that’s what’s important here) and is particularly nice on Friday nights when late night shopping.
However, I see how some people would get annoyed that we spent so much money on lights, and I’d have to agree.
There are many other things we could have put that money towards, and could have made changes on a more significant level.
I’m not going to make this a political rant.
The lights are nice and pretty, they are solar powered which is a mega plus and anyone can submit content, which is kind of cool. Imagine your work being lit up like that for the whole city to see.
It’s okay to have bright lights, but even I, the worst of impulse shoppers, know what my money’s good for.

I. just. don’t. get. it.
Well, I mean I get that it’s a wall of LED lights displaying constantly-​changing digital artworks. It’s pretty. But I’m not quite sure why this was installed where it is, why it’s a «major draw card», and why the Adelaide City Council decided to put $ 2mil towards it. Phrases like «dynamic cultural canvas» just piss me off.
Am I alone here?
Part of my cranky pants stance is the fact it cost $ 2million to install the Lantern, according to the Adelaide City Council site. And while I’m super glad it’s carbon neutral and solar powered, I just think it’s a whole lot of cash that could’ve been used elsewhere with more benefit.
But hey, doesn’t every girl and her dog think she’d have a million better ideas on public funds and improving the city?
I understand it’s an attempt to create a convergence point but since it’s launch in 2008 I’m not sure it has achieved that. The corner is not really a meeting place — there’s nowhere to sit and watch the view (e.g. cafes), nor is it typically buzzing like Piccadilly Circus or Times Square, which I’m guessing are the models for the Lantern. It’s not a natural convergence point for any reason — it’s basically a transit zone, where people cross the road — and the Lantern isn’t enough to effectively transform the space into what it isn’t.
Just one Adelaidean’s opinion. End rant.

On the corner of Rundle and Pulteney Streets in the city is the Rundle Lantern. Launched in 2008 the Rundle Lantern is a unique canvas that is computer driven, lights up at night and displays all sorts of moving images and digital art works across 748 LED panels.
The content displayed on the lantern is constantly changing and anyone can submit material for use. You just have to make sure your content fits the specification guidelines as outlined on the Rundle Lantern website.
The Rundle Lantern is entirely green powered which is great news. It’s panels are 9 stories high and wrap around the UPark carpark on one of Adelaide’s busiest intersections. The light show happens every night from sundown to midnight and is a major drawcard during special events like the Adelaide Fringe and the SALA Festival.