Between Wednesday and Oct. 22, the University of Southern Maine community and the public are invited to see and experience “Dwelling Place,” a temporary public art installation in front of Luther Bonney Hall near Bedford Street in Portland.

“Dwelling Place” is modeled after a traditional Jewish sukkah in celebration of a weeklong festival in which observant Jews live, eat and sleep in the temporary shelter. Sukkot, the festival, is both a celebration of the fall harvest and a reminder that Jews wandered for 40 years in the desert with no permanent home.

Hillel of Southern Maine will sponsor a Break for Bagels for students in the sukkah from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday. Artist Asherah Cinnamon will lead 20-minute informal and interactive presentations to those interested in learning about the sukkah from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in Jewish culture, religion or tradition to experience the spiritual connection between humans and nature. Cinnamon used only locally sourced and recycled materials to build the sukkah. The event is free and open to the public.

“Dwelling Place” is designed for and sponsored by Hillel of Southern Maine in cooperation with the University of Southern Maine, and funded by the Linda and Joel Abromson Fund Award.