Art, astronomy mix at Washburn Observatory

Starry Transit, an exhibition organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) in partnership with the Department of Astronomy, will feature an installation of new, site-specific sculptural works by Wisconsin artist Martha Glowacki.

The installation, which is being created specifically for the 1,200-square-foot dome of the university’s historic Washburn Observatory, explores the ability of night-flying birds to navigate by the stars. Starry Transit will be on view Saturday, Aug. 27- Sunday, Nov. 6.

Starry Transit is a new work by Martha Glowacki, whose original vision and meticulous craftsmanship distinguish her art. Glowacki’s UW–Madison training as a metalsmith can be discerned in her finely rendered sculptures, which are characterized by careful composition and intricate detail.

Glowacki addresses themes that bridge the worlds of art and science, examining essential questions of human existence such as the mysteries of life and death, the consequences of human attempts to manipulate nature, and the desire to understand the forces of the universe. “Starry Transit” continues Glowacki’s dialogue on the relationship between man and the natural world as it explores our understanding of nighttime bird migration guided by the stars.

Drawing heavily on historical scientific objects and manuscripts, the Starry Transit installation will use sculptural elements, texts, and recorded sound to explore the mysteries of night bird migration and the human relationship with the stars. Interactive in nature, the exhibition will include two other sculptural elements that can be manipulated by visitors. The artist’s interpretation of a phenakistiscope, a nineteenth-century optical toy, will allow viewers to simulate the flight of a bird on a starry night. Visitors may also operate Glowacki’s version of a planisphere, an astronomical instrument used for centuries to determine the location of stars in the night sky at different latitudes.

The installation will also include a series of two-dimensional elements; an original poem on the topic of night bird migration by Wisconsin poet Mary Mercier; and recordings of birds taking flight and communicating at night as they migrate.

Starry Transit has been expressly designed for installation in the Washburn Observatory. The observatory was built in 1878 and was a premiere site for the study of astronomy well into the 20th century. The building remains a popular destination, with a working telescope for public stargazing. The exhibition will be presented in 1,200 square feet in the Observatory’s dome.

It is important to note that the narrow doorways and steep and winding stairs of the Washburn Observatory render it inaccessible to some individuals. For those unable to attend the show or gain access because of architectural constraints, an extensive Web site will provide virtual access to the exhibit. Additionally, many instructional programs involving the exhibit – including the celebration of its opening – will be held in accessible facilities.

An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Friday, September 9. The evening will begin with an artist’s preview in Washburn Observatory at 5:30 p.m., and be followed by a reception at Carson Gully Commons, also on the UW–Madison campus, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a slide-illustrated lecture by the artist.

Other public opportunities include:

—”A Conversation with Gunther Schuller:” A free public forum presented by the Arts Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Public Radio, hosted by Lori Skelton. Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, 7 p.m., Mills Hall, Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street. For more information: Arts Institute (608) 263-9290 or email kahewson@wisc.edu.

—”The History of the History of Jazz: From Primitivism to Formalism to New Criticism:” A free public forum presented by the Center for the Humanities in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival and the Overture Center for the Arts. Saturday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m., Wisconsin Studio, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State Street. For more information: Center for the Humanities (608) 263-3412 or visit www.humanities.wisc.edu.

—”The Music of Gunther Schuller:” School of Music faculty performing artists present a concert of Gunther Schuller’s classical works and jazz arrangements. Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., Mills Hall, Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street. Tickets: $9 general, $7 senior/non-UW-Madison students, UW–Madison students free with valid ID. Tickets available at Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office (inside Park Street entrance to Memorial Union), (608) 262-2201. For more information: School of Music (608) 263-1900 or email music@music.wisc.edu.

—”Revisiting Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegel:” A free lecture-demonstration on score interpretation by Gunther Schuller and the UW Symphony Orchestra. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Mills Hall, Mosse Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street. For more information: School of Music (608) 263-1900 or email music@music.wisc.edu.

A wide range of education events and programs for youth and adult audiences will be offered in conjunction with Starry Transit, including talks by ornithologists, astronomers, and history-of-science scholars, and related bird-watching and stargazing opportunities.

For those unable to attend the show or to navigate the observatory’s architecture, a comprehensive Web site will provide virtual access to the Starry Transit installation. Web site components will include an image-driven “tour” of the installation; a photographic journal of the artist at work in her studio; a descriptive guide to the pieces in the installation; a critical essay written by the museum’s curator; a transcript of an interview with the artist; teacher resources; and research on related themes in the exhibition. The Web site will be accessible through the museum’s main site, www.mmoca.org.

Starry Transit has been made possible by the generous support of the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, with additional funds from the Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation and the Overture Foundation; The Evjue Foundation Inc., the charitable arm of The Capital Times; and the Art League of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Starry Transit will be open to the public free of charge from Saturday, Aug. 27-Nov. 6. Hours will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays; noon-8 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; and noon-5 p.m. Sundays.