Billboards in Times Square to Feature Yoko Ono's IMAGINE PEACE for Holiday Season, Now thru 12/30

A stunning visual message of peace will greet New Yorkers and visitors to the Crossroads of the World this holiday season as part of a synchronized program on over fifteen of the largest digital screens in Times Square. Yoko Ono's work, IMAGINE PEACE, will be featured nightly at 11:57 pm - midnight every night throughout December 30 as part of the Times Square Moment: A Digital Gallery, a presentation of the Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts.

IMAGINE PEACE is artist Yoko Ono's worldwide initiative of anti-violence. In the film, "Imagine Peace" is written in 24 languages set over the tranquil imagery of a blue-sky background. The piece has now been transformed into a multi-channel work specifically for the Times Square Moment, and spreads the message of peace across Times Square's monumental screens simultaneously, filling the Crossroads of the World with 24 languages of the world. Yoko Ono said: "Every day for three minutes we will think of world peace together, watching this blue sky. I love you!"

Times Square Moment called upon the Art Production Fund, which specialize in bringing contemporary artists into our daily lives through installations throughout all our public spaces, to assist in the collaboration with Yoko Ono for the iconic digital billboards of Times Square. Each month the digital advertisers and the Alliance look towards the creative talent on tap in NYC to curate a new video.

Alan High, Chairman of the Times Square Advertising Coalition and President & General Manager: Spectacolor & Mall Divisions, said: "The Times Square advertising community is pleased to come together once again to give New Yorkers and visitors to the Square a reason to pause from the hustle and bustle and witness artistic creativity on the digital screens. It is a special honor to air IMAGINE PEACE and a fitting tribute to the holiday season and our hopes for the New Year."

Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said: "John Lennon's 'Imagine' is the last song played on New Year's Eve just before 11:59 p.m., when the ball on 1 Times Square begins to descend. Yoko Ono's IMAGINE PEACE is undoubtedly a perfect match for the December Times Square Moment program as it taps into many people's hope for a better world, the sentiment of both the holidays and the New Year."

"Times Square Moment: A Digital Gallery" is the largest coordinated effort in history by the sign operators in Times Square to display synchronized, cutting-edge creative content on billboards throughout Times Square every night. The program, which premiered in May 2012, is organized and supported by the Times Square Advertising Coalition in partnership with Times Square Arts, the public art program for the Times Square Alliance, with additional partners of participating sign holders and artists. Creativity has always been at the forefront of the Times Square signs and their presence is now integral to the identity of this iconic public space. This level of sign holder commitment to synchronize their daily programs to feature cutting-edge art throughout the year is unparalleled.

Each night, Times Square becomes a digital art gallery through dazzling visuals on select billboards. Every show begins at 11:57pm with a "countdown" that signals the start of the 3 minute nightly presentation. Content changes monthly; selected works are announced in the weeks preceding the start of a new show as are the exact signs participating in that month's selection. Past artists featured in "Times Square Moment: A Digital Gallery" include Robert Wilson; Seoungho Cho; Vicki DaSilva, Surabhi Saraf, and Elly Cho; Erika Janunger; Takeshi Murata; and Bel Borba with Burt Sun and André Costantini. For more information on past projects, visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/times-square-arts/moment/index.aspx.

The following digital screens are participating in the December Times Square Moment: ABC Super Sign, American Eagle Times Square, Bank of America, CEMUSA, City Outdoor, Disney, JVC Screen, MTV 44 ½, NASDAQ, Spectacolor HD129 / Times Square Visitor Center Marquee, ClearChannel HD128, Spectacolor HD127 / CNN Screen, Times Square Visitor Center, Viacom North & South (SL Green Realty and Orange Barrel Media) Thomson Reuters, and 7TS (7 Times Square).

Guidelines for participation in future programs are located on the Times Square website. All inquiries relating to content should be directed to artsubmit@timessquarenyc.org
and must include TIMES SQUARE MOMENT in the subject line of the email to receive updates.

Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) is a trade association comprised of major advertisers, retailers, real estate firms, media companies and other businesses involved in the outdoor sign industry in Times Square, along with organizations representing Broadway and the community. Members of TSAC include: ABC Regional Sports & Entertainment Sales, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Daktronics, D3 LED, Digital Domination, Hines Management, Jamestown One Times Square, Lamar Advertising Company, Landmark Sign & Electric, Metro Media Technologies, Newmark Knight Frank, North Shore Neon, P.R.omotion!, Sherwood Outdoor, SL Green, The Times Square Alliance, The WOW Factor and Thomson Reuters. For more info, go to www.timessquareadcoalition.org.

Times Square Arts, the public arts program of the Times Square Alliance, presents leading contemporary art and performances in multiple forms and media to more than 400,000 daily visitors to New York City's Times Square, making it one of the highest profile public arts programs in the United States. Since its inception, Times Square Arts has featured works by a diverse group of more than four dozen prominent and emerging artists. Working in partnership with cultural institutions and festivals, the program is further supported by Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Rockefeller Foundation's Cultural Innovation Fund, which works to spur and support cultural innovation in New York City's creative sector. Visit www.TimesSquareNYC.org/arts for more information. Follow us on Twitter:@TSqArts

Art Production Fund (APF) is a public art initiative dedicated to commissioning, producing and presenting ambitious art projects by emerging and established artists. APF is committed to engaging audiences in creative ways by realizing socially relevant projects, which push the field of public art in new directions. APF's unexpected and challenging projects are available to diverse audiences in locations that fall outside the realm of traditional art institutions.

Born 1933, Tokyo, Japan, Yoko Ono lives and works in New York. Ono is an influential artist who pushes the boundaries of the art, film, music and theatre media. The present time marks a renewed resurgence of interest and celebration of her work. She received the prestigious Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2009 Venice Biennale and is currently on a world tour with PLASTIC ONO BAND.

Photo Credit: Ka-Man Tse