As the cool winter air envelops New York, a unique spectacle is set to light up Manhattan’s East Side. “Field of Light at Freedom Plaza,” a captivating public art installation by the world-renowned artist Bruce Munro, will open its radiant arms to the public on December 15, 2023. Thanks to the Soloviev Foundation‘s generous sponsorship, this exhibition will sprawl across six acres from 38th to 41st Street east of First Avenue and be accessible to all, free of charge.
Listen to the Bruce Munro Interview
This immersive installation is not just a visual feast. It will feature 17,000 low-lit, fiber-optic spheres, creating a maze of glowing orbs between the iconic New York skyline and the tranquil East River waterfront. Visitors will be enveloped in a serene luminescence as they wander the winding paths, apart from the city’s bustling rhythm.
“I am honored to introduce Field of Light to New York. It is my hope that the installation will provide visitors with a contemplative environment to decompress, to recharge, and to communicate their feelings and dreams with family, friends, and neighbors,” said Munro. “Art is a universal language and light is the ultimate medium.”
Field of Light at Freedom Plaza aims to offer more than just a visual experience. It seeks to provide a space for contemplation, connection, and community. Open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, with special extended hours during the holiday season, Bruce Munro envisions this installation as a medium for visitors to reflect, recharge, and share their aspirations.
Michael Hershman, CEO of the Soloviev Group, views Field of Light as a heartfelt tribute to New York, offering hope and freedom in challenging times. Munro’s previous works have captivated audiences worldwide, from the Guggenheim Museum in New York to the Northern Territory of Australia. His creations are celebrated for harnessing natural light and evoking shared human experiences.
“Field of Light at Freedom Plaza” is more than an art installation; it is a fusion of art, technology, and nature. Set against Manhattan’s dynamic backdrop, this muted, ethereal landscape is a testament to the city’s enduring spirit of creativity and resilience; for more information on this mesmerizing installation or to schedule a visit, head to fieldoflightnyc.com.
Hours of Operation (winter season):
Thursday – Saturday 5pm – 9pm
About The Artist
British artist Bruce Munro is best known for producing large immersive light-based installations, which often employ a massing of components by the thousands. An artistic diarist, he has spent over 40 years collecting and recording ideas and images in his sketchbooks, which he returns to over time as source material. Language, literature, science, and music have also greatly influenced his work. Frequently, Bruce’s subject matter is his own experience of fleeting moments of rapport with the world and existence in its largest sense of being part of life’s essential pattern. His reoccurring motif is the use of light on an environmental scale in order to create an emotional response for the viewer. Bruce completed a B.A. in Fine Arts at Bristol in 1982. Shortly after he moved to Sydney where he worked in design and lighting, inspired by Australia’s natural light and landscape. Returning to England in 1992 he settled in Wiltshire, where together with his wife, Serena, he raised four children. Bruce’s work has been shown at Museums and Botanical Gardens internationally, notably, Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Waddesdon Manor for the Rothschild Collection, Buckinghamshire; Beyond Limits 2016 for Sothebys at Chatsworth House; Messums, Wiltshire and the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Melbourne. His work Field of Light continues to be exhibited at Uluru, NT, Australia and at Sensorio, California, USA. Bruce’s work is held in private and public museum collections internationally including Cheekwood Garden and Art Museum, TN, the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford and Texas Tech University TX.
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