Starry Transit

Starry Transit_panorama in shape of cross showing observatory space

Starry Transit_night view of cabinet and machines in observatory

Starry Transit_day view of cabinet two drawers open

Starry Transit_cast iron machine with two round maps

dimensions variable

2005

mixed media

Starry Transit, an Installation by Martha Glowacki, was held in the dome of UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory from August 27 through November 6, 2005. The exhibition was a collaborative project between the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Astronomy.

The exhibition was inspired by biologist Steven T. Emlen's research that demonstrated that night-migrating birds use star patterns to assist in navigation during migration. The installation included several new artworks created for the observatory space, including a working planisphere calibrated for the latitude of Washburn and a freestanding cabinet with a tableau of migrating birds perched on constellation models.

My intent with this exhibition was to encourage viewers to think about how scientists work, to reflect on the value of different ways of observing natural phenomena, to celebrate the special history of the Washburn site, and, above all, to create some sense of the beauty and magic of the natural world.

This image shows a panorama of Starry Transit taken by Jamie Young.