Breathing Lights on list of top art projects

WASHINGTON » Breathing Lights, a large-scale public art project that lit the windows of hundreds of vacant homes across the cities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy last fall was one of 49 outstanding projects recognized last week by Americans for the Arts through its Public Art Network Year in Review program.

Chosen by a jury from 325 entries representing communities across the country, the roster of winning projects was unveiled at Americans for the Arts’ 2017 Annual Convention in San Francisco. The program is the only nation a wide effort that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art.

“These selected works reflect the incredible diversity of public art projects, including temporary to permanent, sculpture to performance art,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The innovation of work demonstrated in the Public Art Network Year in Review shows the breadth of talent from artists around the country.”

Americans for the Arts provides services to the diverse field of public art and also works to develop strategies and tools to improve communities through public art. The Public Art Network’s constituents are public art professionals, visual artists, design professionals, and communities and organizations planning public art projects and programs.

“It’s a great honor to have Breathing Lights recognized by Americans for the Arts alongside other groundbreaking projects,” said Breathing Lights Project Director Judie Gilmore. “Breathing Lights had a real impact in New York’s Capital Region, cast attention on a longstanding issue of public concern, and it continues to spark conversations among decision makers, community members and the arts community.”

The massive undertaking was an unparalleled collaborative effort between the region’s mayoral offices, arts community, business leaders and residents.