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Pulitzer Foundation will bring new lights to an old church

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: July 29, 2008 - Fire laid claim to Grand Center's Spring church in 2001, gutting its interior and licking away at its roof, leaving behind only a charred shell. But German artists Sebastian Hungerer and Rainer Kehres have plans for the church. In September, the pair will be re-creating its roof with lamps and shades donated by St. Louis area residents.

The project is sponsored by the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts as part of a series of exhibits in the Community Light Project. Pulitzer spokeswoman Rachel Gagnon said the project is a means of examining the role of art and light in community.

"The project seeks to open dialogue about what light means to different community members -- for some it may mean security, for others it may mean salvation, while for others still, light may mean pollution or surveillance," Gagnon said.

Volunteers stopping by the Pulitzer to drop off lamps for the Spring church installation are donating more than light fixtures -- they're also donating their stories. As part of the project, the history behind the donated lamps is documented and uploaded with pictures of donors to the Pulitzer's Web site.

The lamps come in all styles -- a desk lamp, a paper lantern, and a freestanding floor lamp are among the hundreds of donations so far. And the donors' reasons for giving are as various as the lamps themselves. Some of the lights were rescued from dusty basements and attics. Others were the victims of redecorated living rooms. Still others were purchased by art enthusiasts specifically for the installation.

The collaborative aspect of the project caught lamp donor Martin Wheeler's attention when he was perusing the Pulitzer's website. His interest peaked, Wheeler showed up at the Pulitzer, lamp in hand -- a bulky metal drafting lamp, nonetheless.

"The success of this project hinged on the voluntary involvement and contributions of people exclusive of the two main artists and the Pulitzer itself," Wheeler said. "While they provide direction and a game plan, the true success is in many people making their small donation to see a potentially amazing end result.

"In a business where nearly every trick has been tried, this art project bristled with originality. It seems a real risk to make the success dependent on the involvement and donations of the general populace."

The Spring church installation, as well as other exhibits associated with The Community Light Project, will open with a public reception from 6-9 p.m., Sept. 4.

Amanda King is a rising senior at Washington University and an intern with the Beacon.