Some 200 abandoned homes in cities across New York State are being transformed into art installation as part of a new project entitled “‘Breathing Lights’”“http://www.adamfrelin.com/#/breathinglights/.<br /><br /> The brainchild of artist Adam Frelin in collaboration with architect Barbara Nelson, the project focusses on houses in distressed neighborhoods. <br /><br /> Their windows are equipped with pulsating lights, mimicking the breathing of living beings. <br /><br /> “What is also exciting is when people wanted to say what their first reaction was. There was a lot believing that the building was getting ready to explode, or there was like some power surge, or it was haunted,” says Adam Frelin. <br /><br /> The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the rising number of vacant houses and empty buildings in the cities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy.<br /><br /> Jerry Ford is one of many volunteers who have helped organisers with the project in Troy. <br /><br /> “You look at it and most people will see an abandoned building, but this is abandoned families, this is abandoned communities, this is where society really starts to see a breakdown,” he says. <br /><br /> Though the lights will gradually go off by the end of November, events around the project will continue, including community discussions, youth film festivals and tours.<br /><br /> But its success depends on local response, which has ranged from delight to anger – while some welcome this beacon of hope in their neighbourhood, others say the money for the project – a grant of 1 million dollars – could have been better spent.<br />
