8 Nights 8 Windows Public Art On Display at USES

On Display December 6 - 14, 2015
Harriet Tubman House
566 Columbus Avenue

United South End Settlements is proud to be a host site for Boston’s first juried seasonal Jewish public art project, 8 Nights, 8 Windows, to brighten the city’s holiday season with the essence of the Festival of Lights, bringing a fresh understanding of Hanukkah to the entire community for the eight nights of the Jewish holiday.

On view in the second stories windows of the Harriet Tubman House is artist Matt Brand's Luminous Miracle, luminous images that morph into wisps of light and then magically reappear. You can learn more about Mr. Brand's at his website Zintaglio.com or by watching the video below.

The eight chosen pieces were selected by a jury of notable curators, arts leaders, and arts practitioners. In addition to the artwork, free public events will be hosted at several of the windows throughout the holiday. The art will be on display for the duration of Hanukkah (December 6-14, 2015), in windows throughout the city of Boston at the following locations:

•  Downtown Crossing Roche Bros. (8 Summer St.)
•  Pavement Coffee House (44 Gainsborough St.)
•  United South End Settlements (566 Columbus Ave.)
•  The West End Museum (150 Staniford St.)
•  Boomerang’s Special Edition (1407 Washington St.)
•  Milk Street Café (50 Milk St.)
•  Boston Center for the Arts’ Artist Studio Building (539 Tremont St.)
•  Cambridge Trust bank (565 Tremont St.)

A ninth window at Fire & Ice, 205 Berkeley St., will feature 8 Nights, 8 Windows Kids, a stained glass-like community installation created by children, with help from artist Tova Speter. This work is presented in partnership with Temple Israel of Boston and the Families With Young Children program.

“We are so proud to share the beauty of Hanukkah with the community through this first public artistic exploration of the holiday,” said Laura Mandel, the New Center’s Executive Director. “The artists involved in this project are extremely talented, and they are not all Jewish, which underscores the holiday’s deeper universality. We are honored to be able to present their impressive and diverse work as a part of this unique celebration.”

This innovative public event is sponsored by the New Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP), and in collaboration with the Boston Jewish Music Festival (BJMF) and the Boston Jewish Film Festival (BJFF).

On December 9, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will host the second annual Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights, a free and open event that attracted over 2,300 people last year. The evening will include candle lighting, a unique Virtual Reality art installation, family friendly art activities, live music, art talks, and more.

For more information regarding the festival, artists, and how you can support the project, visit www.8nights8windows.com.