photo: Joe Appel
INSTALLATION, Fall 2009
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7:11AM 11.20.1979 79°55'W 40°27'N
2009
in the Walled Garden at Mellon Park, Pittsburgh.
Commissioned by the Pittsburgh Park Conservancy and the Pittsburgh Arts Council as part of a complete renovation of the garden.
108' X 66', light through fiber optics, 150 granite markers with text.
Both a work for the general public and a memorial, this artwork brings 150 stars and planets down to the lawn of the garden, reflecting the exact sky that hovered over the garden at the moment of Anne Katherine Seamans' birth in 1979. The title refers to that specific time, date, longitude and latitude.
After dark, a visitor to the garden sees the night sky twinkling from the lawn. In the day, 150 stone markers are hidden in the grass.
The process: We researched our sky and chose the 150 brightest sky objects. Consulting astronomer Jim Kaler, we selected one of the names of each star or star cluster or planet, and a short phrase that expressed the most interesting thing about that sky object. The names and phrases are engraved on the stone markers. Some of the phrases on the markers are scientific, some are translations, some are from history or myth; many are mysterious.
The technology: fiber optic cable runs through PVC pipes under the lawn, and up into fixtures that hold customized domed lightsticks. The stone markers surround the lightsticks. The lights vary in brightness and twinkle very slightly.
Landscape Architects: LaQuatra Bonci Associates, Fred Bonci and Natalie Byrd
Lighting consultant: Hal Hilbish
Astronomy consultant: Jim Kaler, Prof. Emeritus of Astronomy, University of Illinois
Granite engraving: GlassArt Design, Minneapolis
installation: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Project manager, PPC: Susan Rademacher
Project managers, Pittsburgh Arts Council: Renee Piechocki and Lea Donatelli
Project consultants: Joe and Elizabeth Seamans
Project assistants: Ben Cohen and Lynn Paik
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