Hand Generated Light (1975)

Museum of Conceptual Art, San Francisco — Performance Installation

In the Jewish religion there is a light above the ark where the torah scroll is kept that is called the ’everlasting light’ or the ‘eternal flame’. It is intended to never go out and can be thought of as symbolizing a relationship between God and fire, or light.

As I placed the small light bulb on the outside door panel I remembered and thought about this image. I generated electricity with a hand crank generator from inside the room behind the door. I thought of this light as a reaffirmation of the life force. The light of life exists for a brief moment in time.