8 Nights, 8 Windows: Illuminating Boston Vision

8 Nights, 8 Windows: Illuminating Boston
Vision
Eating fried foods is a much beloved
Hanukkah tradition, commemorating
the miracle of the oil expected to last
one day that lasted for eight instead.
But it’s sharing the light of this
miracle with the community, often
by placing a glowing
hanukkiah/menorah in the window,
that is the true heart of the holiday.
8 Nights, 8 Windows is a project of
New Center NOW and CJP that
invites artists to create eight pop-up
public art installations/happenings to
brighten the dark, cold Boston holiday season with the essence of the Festival of Light: miracle, illumination, and
innovation. Artists will share stories, old and new, creating experiences that bring a fresh understanding and a
deeper look into the essence of Hanukkah.
What does your Hanukkah miracle look, sound, and feel like?
Why?
Unlike Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover, three of the more widely known of the seven major Jewish
religious holidays, Hanukkah is not based in ritual. Instead, the core emphasis on illumination, family, and
community make it relevant to a wider audience. In American culture, it has been elevated by its comparison to
Christmas, but the story of Hanukkah has the cache to illuminate important Jewish, and universal, values.
Repairing the world: Family and friends gather to celebrate Hanukkah, and while we focus on candle lighting, gift
giving, and sharing meals, it’s an ideal opportunity to connect with and to create our own modern day miracles.
What modern miracles help repair the world and forge deeper connections to each other and to our neighbors in
need?
Tolerance: At its core, Hanukkah celebrates tolerance. It illuminates our ability to overcome oppression by seeing
the light in our community and each other. Regardless of one’s background or beliefs, all can appreciate this
holiday’s physical and metaphorical expression of light and dark.
Knowledge: The light of the candles reminds us that we can be lights unto the world, and through mindfulness,
learning, and innovation, we can all play a role in bettering our communities.
With Boston abuzz about creating a stronger arts presence in the public sphere, and in a digital age with an
increased need for opportunities for public interactions, now is an especially unique and important time to
introduce this project to the city. 2015 has also been named the International Year of Light by the UN, so we will
close the year with a bang!
What?
Eight (or more) works will be created for eight windows throughout the Greater Boston Area. Each installation
will illuminate a window for the duration of Hanukkah 2015, and free nightly public celebrations, one at each
window each night of the holiday, will be hosted and publicized by New Center NOW, CJP, and our partners.
Our partnership with the MFA on December 17, 2014 will serve as a community-wide preview of this
forthcoming project.
What defines a “window”?
-
Retail spaces, building lobbies, online… and any other portal through which the works can be viewed.
Team
Laura Mandel, New Center NOW staff lead
Alison Hammer, advisor
Abby Goldenthal, CJP Professional
Jessica Alpert Silber, advisor
Sarah Berry, artistic lead
Josh Slater, advisor
Amanda Goodman, community advisor
Lou Cove, Serial Entrepreneur and Senior Advisor
Kris Henry, Collective Next consultant
Sara Bookin-Weiner, New Center Staff
How Can You Help?
Spread the word! Help us connect with artists and potential host windows.
Contact Us
http://www.NewCenterNOW.org/8-nights-8-windows/
Laura Mandel
[email protected]
617.531.4614
Abby Goldenthal
[email protected]
617.457.8776
Sara Bookin-Weiner
[email protected]
617.531.4612

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