Submitted by Rachel Cothran, communications director, Georgetown Business Improvement District
Georgetown GLOW—the popular holiday celebration featuring outdoor public light-art installations that invite visitors to “re-imagine the season of light”—is even bigger for 2015. In its second year, Georgetown GLOW will expand from a weekend-long celebration to a 10-day exhibition from December 11-20, with works lit from 6–10 pm nightly. Visit www.GeorgetownGLOWDC.com for announcements and updates about the event, which also includes live music, merchant promotions, and more.
The Georgetown GLOW exhibition encourages contemplation of, and interaction with, the natural environment. The intimate, historic C&O Canal—a beautiful, meditative waterway reminiscent of Georgetown’s founding as a port town just steps from bustling M Street—will serve as the primary location for the works. Five site-specific installations commissioned by artists with a diverse mix of backgrounds in artistic lighting design, sculpture, architecture, street art, video mapping, and film will be on view along and adjacent to the C&O Canal, Georgetown Waterfront Park, and other locations south of M Street. While works will be on view throughout the 10-day period, each piece will be lit nightly from 6-10 pm. The participating artists are Laia Cabrera and Isabelle Duverger (New York, NY), Arthur Gallice and Hervé Orgeas (Shanghai/Washington, DC), the collective SHO + ULR (Pittsburgh/Gainesville, FL/Boston), Kelly Towles (Washington, DC), and Hiroshi Jacobs of the trans-disciplinary research and design collaborative HiJAC (Washington, DC).
The holiday celebration also includes in-store promotions like free hot chocolate and gift wrapping, as well as sales and events from a number of Georgetown merchants. Over both weekends during Georgetown GLOW, visitors will enjoy nightly live outdoor musical performances at 6:30 pm on the lawn of Grace Church (1041 Wisconsin Avenue). Additionally, visitors shouldn’t miss a visit to Washington Harbour for a spin on the region's largest outdoor ice skating rink.
Many Georgetown businesses, including numerous small-business merchants, will take part in the 4th annual Holiday Window Competition. Visitors to Georgetown stroll throughout the commercial district to enjoy uniquely decorated merchant windows. Starting November 28 (through December 20), the public is invited to register a vote for their favorite window via the Georgetown Facebook page.
Attendance to Georgetown GLOW, including access to all art installations, is free. Visit www.GeorgetownGLOWDC.com, follow Georgetown on Twitter (@georgetowndc), Facebook, and Instagram (@officialgeorgetowndc). Follow updates and announcements at #GeorgetownGLOW.