West End Museum Hosts 8 Nights, 8 Windows Art Installation & Talk: Jewish Public Art Project will Illuminate Boston Throughout Hanukkah

Boston, MA — The West End Museum is proud to be part of Boston’s first seasonal Jewish public art project.

8 Nights, 8 Windows is a juried art venture created to brighten the holiday season with the essence of the Festival of Lights and to bring a fresh understanding of Hanukkah to the entire community. The project is sponsored by 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.

Art installations will be on display from December 6th through 14th in windows throughout the city, including the Museum’s. The Museum will also host an artists’ talk on Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m. (details below). The display and talk are free and open to the public.
“We are so pleased to be part of this innovative project. It offers us a unique opportunity to focus on Jewish culture, which is a significant part of the history of Boston’s West End,” said Museum Director Susan Hanson.

The 8 Nights, 8 Windows display at The West End Museum, “Halfway through the Dark,” is the work of local artists Christian Meade and Nathaniel Wyrick. Meade and Wyrick’s found object and mixed media installation depicts a darkened domestic interior. As the days of Hanukkah progress, the scene will be illuminated by unexpected and miraculous light sources. The work celebrates the light of home and dispels the long dark of winter.

“Winter holidays, especially Hanukkah, are celebrations of light and warmth with many events that gather family and friends together,” said Meade. “The work Nathaniel and I are creating for 8 Nights, 8 Windows integrates these ideas of family, togetherness and embracing the miracle of light in the midst of darkness.”

Meade and Wyrick will present a talk at the Museum on December 11 at 7 p.m. to discuss the thought process that led them to the “Halfway through the Dark” concept and their process creating the installation itself. They will engage attendees, answering questions about the work, its symbolism related to Hanukkah, and the themes of darkness and light in the winter season. Pre-register for this free event here.

For more information on the entire 8 Nights, 8 Windows project and related free public events, please visit www.8nights8windows.com.

About the West End Museum:
The West End Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End  neighborhood. The Museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Last Tenement,” highlights the immigrant history of the neighborhood through its decimation under Urban Renewal in 1959; two additional galleries feature rotating exhibits. The Museum is located  near North Station at 150 Staniford St. Suite 7. Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm; Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm. Admission is free.