New Crown Heights Art Installation: 120 Lanterns In Response To President Trump

CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — A New York City artist's installation of more than 100 lanterns, a response to November's presidential election, is on display at a Crown Heights exhibit space this week.

After President Trump's surprise election win, artist Jessica Maffia asked everybody she knew, "What do we do now?" and recorded the responses on individual lanterns. The lanterns are on display this week at FiveMyles, located at 558 St. Johns Place between Classon and Franklin avenues.

Passersby can add their own thoughts, too.

"There’s still blank lanterns hanging," she told Patch. The FiveMyles location appealed to her because the installation will be at street-level and visible to anyone walking by. "I didn’t want it to be a gallery destination. I wanted it to surprise people. There’s a lot of people coming by and writing their thoughts right now."

She estimates that there are about 120 on display right now.

Maffia's inspiration, according to FiveMyles' website, was a German children's song with the words "Lantern, lantern stay alive. It’s dark outside but my light keeps shining."

The lanterns will be on display through Feb. 26 from 1 to 8 p.m.

It's the fourth installation for the project, which was on display twice in New Mexico and then in Chelsea. The project's tone has changed slightly with each installation, she said, as the election is further and further away.

"We’re in such a different place from when the project first arose," she said. "Each time, it offers something slightly different."

Maffia said she hopes the project can "create a safe space for people to share their thoughts and feelings. To mourn together, to process together, to strategize together. There’s something kind of melancholy about them."

FiveMyles is a creative space in Crown Heights, focused on "giving emerging, merited, and well-established artists the opportunity to present their work in solo and group exhibitions," according to its website.

Image: FiveMyles front, via Google Streetview