Renowned Swiss Artist Illuminates Washington National Cathedral
"Lighting to Unite" Asks the Country, World to Join Together
Washington, D.C. May 8, 2008 /PRNewswire/ – Swiss lighting artist Gerry Hofstetter projected images ranging from abstracts of the Cathedral's stained glass windows to faces of people of all races onto Washington National Cathedral as a call for national and global unity in a project entitled "Lighting to Unite."
From sunset to midnight on three evenings, May 9-11, the Cathedral's south and west sides with be illuminated in celebration of the Cathedral's centennial, illustrating its mission of reconciliation and spotlighting its role as a spiritual beacon for the nation.
"Light is one our most powerful symbols—evoking a sense of possibility and new life. For three nights, illumination artist Gerry Hofstetter will light up the Cathedral against the night sky of Washington, D.C. with images that speak of unity and reconciliation," said Cathedral Dean Sam Lloyd. "My hope is that everyone who experiences the brilliantly lit Cathedral, either online or in-person, will catch a glimpse of human oneness and harmony and be inspired to build bridges of understanding."
Hofstetter, one of the world's best-known light artists, transforms buildings, monuments and natural beauty spots into contemporary works of art. His recent work includes projections of polar bears on Antarctic icebergs, hieroglyphics on the ancient pyramids of Egypt, Swiss crosses on the Matterhorn and abstract colors on the Arc de Triomphe. Hofstetter plans to illuminate Mount Kilimanjaro in the near future.
The public is invited to join in the celebration in several ways. On Saturday evening, May 10, seven music ensembles will perform from 7 pm to 8:50 pm, preceding the illumination, and food vendors will also be on the premises (weather permitting). Everyone is invited to picnic and bring cameras. People can also visit Washington National Cathedral on Flickr, MySpace, Facebook and at www.nationalcathedral.org to post photos, email friends and proclaim commitments to humankind's diverse unity.
"Lighting to Unite" is made possible, in part, through the generous support of PNC Bank, WAMU 88.5 FM and the Embassy of Switzerland.
More information on "Lighting to Unite" can be found at www.nationalcathedral.org
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