Bragdon believed that just as music had elevated the human sense of hearing to a new level, understanding light would elevate the sense of sight.

Claude Fayette Bragdon was a Rochester based architect and pioneer in the technology of lighting for theater who on September 30, 1915, opened the Sounds and Light Festival in Rochester’s Highland Park - using electric lamps covered by glass shields and lanterns hung from trees. He had experimented with the techniques a year before at a party and the lighting and music were a big hit with the guests at his home.

Rachel DeGuzman is the president and CEO of 21^st Century Arts and the founder and executive producer of A Street Light Festival.

When I conceived of A Street Light Festival my only knowledge of Claude Bragdon was vaguely as an early 20^th century architect in Rochester. I had no idea that almost exactly 100 years before A Street Light Festival launches in Village Gate Square – symbolically during 2015 the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies, there was a light and music festival in Rochester that expanded to Buffalo and Syracuse as well as Central Park in New York City in 1917. By design, the festivals drew big crowds with the first one that was held in Central Park attracting more than 60,000 attendees.

Whether its kismet or not, Margot and I decided to name the top jury prize at the A Street Light Festival in his honor, the Claude Fayette Bragdon Award. We look forward to presenting it to an exhibitor that is worthy enough to walk in Bradgon’s inventive shoes.