NightVisions: AMBER

June 27 – September 26, 2026 

Opening Reception June 27

• Members’ Preview 5-6 pm
• Jurors Talk 6 pm
• Public Reception 6-8 pm

NightVisions: AMBER is an international juried art exhibition that seeks to explore and celebrate our deep connections with the night. In its 9th iteration for 2026, this long-standing collaboration between Coconino Center for the Arts and the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition celebrates the 25th anniversary of Flagstaff’s designation as the world’s first International Dark Sky City. This special anniversary-year exhibition expands upon the established NightVisions: Cultural Interpretations of the Night Sky concept with a focused thematic exploration of amber lighting, aligning with the critical role that amber spectrum lighting plays in Flagstaff’s dark-sky conservation. To emphasize this concept, the exhibition features gallery lights that periodically transition between white and narrowband amber. Participating artists are encouraged to create artwork that is designed to change under the amber lighting.

Flagstaff is the world’s first International Dark Sky City, a designation received on Oct 24, 2001, that recognized the extraordinary commitment of the Flagstaff community to night-sky protection, which began with the world’s first ordinance protecting the night sky in 1958. These efforts were at the foundation of a global movement to protect night skies and continue today through the efforts of the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County and the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition. In Nov 2025, Flagstaff was further recognized by DarkSky International with the Dark Sky Place of the Year Award for its “continued leadership and innovative approaches [that] serve as a model for cities worldwide seeking to balance development with night sky preservation.” 

Each iteration of NightVisions is a new production featuring different thematic focus, new jurors, a fresh selection of participating artists, and evolved programming for a unique exhibition experience. Aligning with CCA’s mission of presenting creative endeavors across art, science, and culture, and FDSC’s vision of a world where everyone can see the Milky Way where they live, CCA and FDSC are proud to co-produce NightVisions: AMBER at Coconino Center for the Arts, featuring amber lighting displays in the gallery to share with visitors the visual effects of the narrowband amber lighting that Flagstaff requires for outdoor use to minimize light pollution and protect wildlife habitat.

Image credit: NightVisions 2022 Honorable Mention: Saskia Jorda, As Above, So Below, embroidered upcycled denim, dimensions variable 

Exhibition Partner:
Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition