The Miracle of Lights Told through Art

This year marks Boston’s first seasonal Jewish public art project. Over the course of the eight nights of Hanukkah—often referred to as the “miracle of lights”—eight art installations appeared in windows around the city. Each display featured elements that changed from night to night, including some with interactive components that allowed passersby to contribute. The project titled, 8 Nights, 8 Windows, was designed to bring the miracle, illumination and innovation of Hanukkah to all.

The West End Museum was proud to host one of the windows. Created by local artists Christian Meade and Nathaniel Wyrick, “Halfway through the Dark” depicted a room in a home reminiscent of the tenement homes in the old West End. With each night, a new and unexpected light source illuminated the scene, integrating “ideas of family, togetherness and embracing the miracle of light in the midst of darkness,” Meade said.

“It’s very cool; I think the layout of the window is interesting. Plus, it brings Hanukkah to the greater community,” said Amy, who walks by the window nearly every evening on her way from her job near the Museum to her home in Cambridge.

While many pedestrians hurried by without taking note of the window installation, some we talked with loved the concept of using light to illustrate the meaning of the holiday.

“It’s a great idea. This is a cold and dark time of year, and focusing on the light and tradition is important,” said Janet, a Newton resident walking by on a recent night.

Rome, a local resident who says he is glad to be a neighbor of the West End Museum, had his own take on the window art. “It shows family and foundation. It isn’t fancy, but it’s home,” he said.

Each of the eight windows in Boston uses different elements to create a different kind of illumination for the City.

At the Milk Street Café in the financial district, video images of different faces brightened the large plate glass window. Some were faces of children; others of adults. Some were talking (though you couldn’t hear them); others were laughing. One held a sign that read, “Deep fry everything,” a possible reference to fried potato pancakes, called Latkes, which are a traditional food eaten during Hanukkah.

Julia, who works across the street from the Café and has looked at the images, believes public recognition of the holiday is important, even for non-Jews. “You need to spread the word about the miracle of Hanukkah.”

Artists submitted proposals for 8 Nights 8 Windows displays, and a jury of notable curators, arts leaders and arts practitioners reviewed and selected the ones they felt best expressed the goals of the exhibit. New Center for Arts and Culture, in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, and in collaboration with the Boston Jewish Music Festival and the Boston Jewish Film Festival, sponsored the project.