Explore immersive outdoor art experiences at Canal Convergence

Canal Convergence is a 10-day immersive outdoor art event held at the Scottsdale Waterfront, featuring large-scale artwork, live music, dance performances and interactive educational activities. This year, eight major art pieces will light up the event each night.

Event coordinator Kiara Brown emphasized the annual celebration which pays tribute to the canal’s history, which was periodically drained by SRP. Now in its 11th year, Canal Convergence continues to showcase stunning art pieces and engaging, interactive components that come to life at night.

“It’s a celebration of art, water and light,” Brown said. “They are all created to be showcased at night, typically they will have an interactive component of some sort.”

One of the standout installations at Canal Convergence is The Array, a stunning series of 14 pieces from Canada, split across both sides of the canal. Designed to promote a better world, this interactive artwork presents positive images and phrases that encourage reflection and engagement.

“In theory, as you walk up, it’s supposed to create a better world,” Brown said. “The theme this year is reflection, so we want people to take a moment, pause, reflect and engage with our artworks.”

Another featured installation, Gaiascope, is a kaleidoscope-inspired piece by a Colorado-based artist, showcasing Arizona’s scenery while manipulating sound, light and imagery for a dynamic experience.

“They actualy showcase inside Arizona’s natural landscape and scenery,” Brown said.

The PORTAL explores the mystique of portals as gateways to other dimensions. This 17-foot structure invites visitors to navigate its towering frame and engage with an interactive console, controlling immersive video and LED features that enhance the experience, transforming it into a captivating journey of reflection and discovery.

“Our guests will be able to interact with the different color schemes. There’s a sound component, there’s a light component,” Brown said. “We won’t have the ramp, it will be flushed to the ground; that’s just an opportunity to bring more accessibility to our guests.”

Scottsdale’s Goldwater District is poised for expansion, ready to accommodate larger crowds and increase its footprint. Brown emphasized the area’s growth as it continues to host one of the most popular immersive art events, attracting visitors from all over.