360° POSSIBILITIES. The Lumiadome (pictured above), now nestled along Clairemont Avenue in Eau Claire, uses projection mapping, laser beam displays, spatial audio and more to create immersive performances for intimate audiences. (Submitted photos) 

In case you missed it, a pair of white “dome”structures have popped up along Clairemont Avenue in Eau Claire. While these  structures may seem unassuming from the exterior, they house a portable venue capable of delivering unique, new sensory-driven experiences.

The Lumiadome, brought to life by local Eric Warner, combines 360-degree projection mapping, laser beam displays, spatial audio and even olfactory stimuli – all brought together to create immersive performances for up to 100 attendees.

After spending his career working in electronic arts and film – software development by day and festival installations (lasers, lighting and projections) by night – Warner detailed a “eureka” moment which propelled the Lumiadome venture to existence.

Early on in his higher ed journey – spent at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s film program – Warner first dreamt of a dome for immersive cinema that audiences could participate in.

Years later, his backgrounds in artistry and technical development, coupled with that initial vision from his time in school, drove Warner to merge those distinct skill sets into one cohesive plan.

“I just look for connection,” Warner said of his personal and professional vocations. “What I am hoping to do is take this medium and be able to offer it up to local artists and musicians to develop a community.”

Comparable to Sphere shows in Las Vegas, Nev., these two domes – one spanning 50 feet and the other 20 feet in size – have arrived to the Chippewa Valley with the potential to house music residencies, yoga or meditative retreats and much more, Warner said.

The Lumiadome began its summer residency in Eau Claire in late July with the debut of Fantasia Quartet – a collaboration between members of the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra and Dathan Boardman, an Eau Claire audio-visual artist.

There, a program of classical and contemporary works was performed while Boardman created live visuals which responded to the music in real time.

“For me art is about expansion of awareness,” Boardman said of the Lumiadome. “The dome illuminates the sense of sight and sound and for me – being a visual person inspired by sound – it has incredible potential for expansion.”

About once a week through August, the Lumiadome will continue to host events along Clairemont Avenue with a rotating cast of area performers – from Andrew Baschyn and Lesh (Luc Hans Larson) on Aug. 7 to Taimbot’s “Motion with Machines” on Aug. 22.

August events at the Lumiadome in Eau Claire, detailed above. (Submitted photo)

Since the Lumiadome’s arrival to Eau Claire, the Pablo Center has gotten in on the project through in-kind donations in both production and marketing, Warner said. These collaborative efforts have the potential for significant expansion to include other local businesses across the Chippewa Valley, Warner added.

The ultimate long-term vision: establish a distributed network of intimate, multimedia performance spaces – each linked together to deliver collective experiences from Wisconsin around the world.

“For example, we could have the dome in Eau Claire with a collaboration between an electronic musician and a visual artist, that is captured and broadcast to X number of domes across the world,” Warner said.

“We could have one in Buenos Aires and Miami, (or) Portland … so that we can deliver performances anywhere,” he continued.

Visit the Lumiadome webpage online or through Facebook (@lumiadome) to learn more about its recurring events in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley.