Amy Biancolli is reporting in the Times Union the temporary art installation "Breathing Lights," is now in the testing phase. The project will soon transform hundreds of vacant buildings in Albany, Schenectady and Troy into sources of gently pulsing light. Artist Adam Frelin and architect Barbara Nelson's installation was the Capitol Region's submission to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge last year, and one of four winning projects nationwide to receive a grant of $1 million. The "Breathing Lights" team recently ran trial illuminations of eight empty buildings. Frelin spoke during a press event held Wed., Apr. 6, at the former St. Mary's Church on Eastern Avenue in Schenectady. He said the lights were tested, as was the coordination process with the contractor, the land bank, zoning and coding. The installation will be up and running in approximately 300 empty buildings in the three cities every night between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. from October through November. General Electric, the Capital Region Creative Economy Project and the Lighting Research Center are among the project's 25 public and private partners. Read the full story in the Times Union.

DOWNLOAD or play an excerpt from a June 2015 interview with artist Adam Frelin about "Breathing Lights." (3:01)