Process

Lighting for the Nocturnal

Finland’s winter darkness soothes my nocturnal soul and it’s even more contemplative with the ubiquitous candelabras. After living in Helsinki ten years ago, James and I returned to Finland for a month-long artist residency on the island of Korpo in the Baltic Sea. Many residents are Swedish or identify with both cultures, and the Swedish Advent candelabra lights many windows during the holidays. In the nearby city of Turku, grids of these now-secular objects line the windows of apartments and office buildings alike, casting a meditative and communal mood on the streets like a temple. We created the Light the Barricades book to everlasting dusks, the sun rising and setting in slow motion behind this warm glow.