Lumonics is the collaborative project of Dorothy Tanner and Mel Tanner, now overseen by Marc Billard utilizing the light sculptures, live projection, video, electronics, and music.

Dorothy Tanner (1923-2020) was born in The Bronx, NY. While experimenting with many materials in her career, Dorothy Tanner found acrylic glass (plexiglass) to be the most rewarding. It is a material that she would sculpt, paint, sandblast, bake and shape. Light is an intrinsic element of the art form. She was the 2018 recipient of the Mayor’s Arts & Culture Innovation Award for the City and County of Denver.

Mel Tanner (1925-1992) was born in Brooklyn, NY. After serving in combat overseas in the Army during World War II, he enrolled in art school under the G.I. Bill. He attended Pratt Institute and the Brooklyn Museum Art School. Mel and Dorothy Tanners’ interest in acrylic glass and its unique qualities engaged them in experimentation that led to the creation of Lumonics.

Marc Billard was born in 1949 in Norwalk, CT. He is the Lumonics Studio Creative Director since the passing of Dorothy Tanner in 2020. He is an art teacher, craftsman, artist, videographer, photographer, curator, and musician. Marc has been designing outdoor public art based on the Tanner light sculptures.