Cai Guo-Qiang to Launch Celestial Fireworks Show in D.C.
Commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center.

On March 29 at 9 p.m. EDT, Interspecies Love Letter: Sky Painting for EARTH to SPACE will illuminate the Potomac River in D.C. with large-scale projections and custom fireworks provided by the acclaimed Sky Ladder artist, Cai Guo-Qiang. Commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, the event debuts Guo-Qiang’s custom AI model, cAITM, which is the mechanism behind the projections in the fireworks display.
The fireworks install narrates cosmic stories, inviting viewers to ruminate on humanity’s relationship with Earth and the universe. Part of the EARTH to SPACE festival, the project emphasizes “cooperation and care” on an interplanetary scale as described in a press statement. Moreover, a companion exhibition, cAITM Lab, will run from March 28 to April 13 in the center’s Skylight Pavilion, offering insight into Guo-Qiang’s creative process that blends art with technology.
This free event can be viewed from the Kennedy Center’s River Plaza, Roof Terrace and other areas along the river. Visit the Kennedy Space Center’s website for more information.
John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center
2700 F St NW
Washington, DC 20566