Ninth annual International Festival of Light coming to Jerusalem

Old City to be transformed into illuminated wonderland Wednesday night through July 6.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: JUNE 27, 2017 23:45
Mads Christensen’s “Cathedral of Mirrors” will be displayed at this week’s annual International Festival of Light (photo credit: Courtesy)
Mads Christensen’s “Cathedral of Mirrors” will be displayed at this week’s annual International Festival of Light
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The ancient courtyards and alleys of Jerusalem’s Old City will be transformed into an interactive state-of-theart lighting show at the ninth annual International Festival of Light, beginning Wednesday evening and running through July 6.
For the first time in the festival’s history, children and adults will be able to alter the appearance of many installations, including by hopping over pools of light at Jen Levin’s “The Pool” installation, which will affect the exhibit’s colors and appearance.
Another exhibit by GNI Projects in the UK, called HeartBeat, encourages visitors to complete a “circuit of love or friendship” by joining hands in front of the sculpture to reveal the pulsing symbol of a heart. Once the connection is broken, the heart breaks into fragments of light again.
In an homage to Alice in Wonderland, the Intruders exhibit, by Australia’s Amanda Parer, features six giant huggable light bunnies that invite children to follow them through the festival.
Additionally, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the capital following the Six Day War, an audiovisual display will light up the walls of the Old City.
A special feature will also include artwork by hospitalized children in Jerusalem that will be projected onto the Old City’s walls by the world’s most powerful slide projector, which the children will be able to view via live streaming.
The festival will also feature displays including a musical fire-juggling performance; a Love and Colors performance by Nissan Nativ Academy for Music and Dance; seven unique light installations by students at Bezalel Academy of Art & Design; and a Turkish light artist’s translation of music and traditional dances into a light show.
Along with Israeli artists, light artists from Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, Austria, China, Germany, the UK and Hungary will be exhibiting.
The Festival of Light will be open every night, except Friday, between 8 and 11 pm. Admission is free.