Public enlightens artist on Gordie Howe bridge light show

Vancouver artist and author Douglas Coupland designed an undulating light show for the Telus skyscraper in Calgary to resemble the Northern Lights.

Now, he says, he's turning his attention to putting together a light show design for the Gordie Howe International Bridge .

Coupland says it will be similar to his previous work, but with only shades of white and no other colours.

"I want the bridge to look like it's alive," he told a small crowd at Art Windsor-Essex Thursday night.

The public was invited to share ideas for the light show, which will feature 5,000 LED lights.

WATCH | Northern Lights show on Calgary's Telus Sky building: 

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One person suggested setting the show to music, and another suggested using the limited colour scheme to represent flying Canada Geese.

But there were also those in the audience who had their concerns.

Starr Livingstone is the president of the Windsor Chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the light abatement officer.

He is concerned the lights will be too bright, adding to light pollution, making it difficult to see what celestial bodies can be seen in the city already.

"There are health issues for the people who use the bridge or live near the bridge regarding lighting. There's also environmental issues concerning bird migration," he said.

Coupland said his show won't be too bright and it won't strobe like the lights you see on the Eiffel Tower.

"There's roughly 5,000 twinkle lights spread out across the towers, along the decks, the edges of the decks and also on the cables.  And he'll be able to individually program each of those lights to create something really fantastic," said Stephanie Campeau, with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.

Campeau also said safety measures will be taken to ensure the lights won't be a problem.

"At various times of the year, especially when migratory birds are moving in the area, unfortunately we will have to dim it. We don't want to have any bird strikes," said Campeau.

"Also looking at the impact on ship pilots who are navigating up and down the channel. We're really looking at how this will affect users from all perspectives," she said Campeau.

The public can still share ideas with the bridge authority on the project.