In November 2024, Molecules by Brooklyn-based design studio The Urban Conga transformed the Scottsdale Waterfront into a vibrant, interactive light-scape as part of the Canal Convergence festival.
Known for their playful, community-driven work, designers Ryan Swanson and Maeghann Coleman delivered an installation that felt both futuristic and deeply human.
uspended above the canal were five mirrored molecular clusters—each made from ten hydrogen and five oxygen atoms, mimicking the makeup of water. During the day, these polished forms captured and refracted natural light, creating a kaleidoscopic display that shifted with every viewer’s movement. By night, they transformed.
Embedded LEDs lit up in response to nearby voices, music, and ambient sound, turning the molecules into reactive, glowing orbs. It was part sculpture, part conversation—a responsive experience that encouraged people to speak, sing, and engage directly with the artwork.
What set Molecules apart was the way it invited people in. It wasn’t there to be observed from a distance—it wanted interaction. Visitors sang to it, laughed with it, whispered into it—and in return, it lit up. It blurred the line between public art and social ritual, giving people a reason to linger, to play, and to connect—with each other and the space around them.
Whether people were capturing it for Instagram or simply having fun experimenting with the voice-activated lighting, the installation turned a slice of the canal into a mini social arena.
Beneath the shimmer and novelty was a thoughtful undercurrent. Using the familiar structure of water as a metaphor, Molecules explored how small elements—like atoms, voices, or moments of connection—can ripple outward to spark larger shifts. It prompted quiet reflection alongside joyful play, striking a balance that felt both timely and timeless.
The Urban Conga’s design ethos centering on community, playfulness, and open interaction, was clearly on display. Molecules wasn’t just art to be seen. It was art to be experienced, co-created and remembered. In a cultural moment that prizes authenticity and shared experiences, it hit the mark.
It was bold, modern, and unafraid to be a little weird, in all the right ways! And for a generation fluent in both selfies and social change, Molecules hit the sweet spot.
