- Object Name:
- Hanukkah Lamp
- Artist/Maker:
- Lyn Godley
- Bio:
- American, b. 1956
- Title:
- Miracle
- Place Made:
- Blandon, Pennsylvania, United States
- Date:
- 2004
- Medium:
- Light boxes and power source; Light sources: flicker bulbs, backlit sculpted vinyl, electroluminescent panels, fiber optics, electroluminescent wire, vinyl overlay diffuser panels, LED lights, backlit digital imagery, light bulbs, and rope lighting
- Dimensions:
- Installation approximately: 72 × 156 in. (182.9 × 396.2 cm)
- Credit Line:
- Jewish Museum Centennial Commission; Purchase: Gift of Nancy and Jeffrey Lane and Gift of Cheryl and Michael Minikes in honor of Phyllis Mack
- Accession Number:
- 2005-1a-j
Not On View
The artist Lyn Godley has created a joyous and monumental Hanukkah lamp that captures the essence of kindling the holiday lights. According to tradition, the number of lights is increased each night, from one up to eight, as a reminder that the miracle became greater over time. In Godley's interpretation, nine different sources of lights are used in a cumulative fashion. Beginning with the flame-like light of the shamash, the first "candle" consists of the flame and a second type of light. The number of light sources increases each night so that on the last day of the holiday all nine types of illumination are blazing.
Information may change as a result of ongoing research.