Connecting Constellations

Allison Amos, Bizzie Ust
"Connecting Constellations"
2023

Inspired by Nancy Holt's "Sun Tunnels" we connect astronomy and earth. Massive cement tunnels near Lucin, Utah, built in 1976, are positioned in an "X" formation to correlate with viewing the winter and summer solstices. Drilled on each of the tunnels are holes for the constellations - Columba, Capricorn, Draco, and Perseus. Not everyone has the opportunity to see "Sun Tunnels" in person so we bring a more obtainable experience in this work: a cut out of the map where "Sun Tunnels" is located is placed on a half sphere styrofoam. Holt chose these constellations because she wanted stars of different magnitudes; we represent that by cutting smaller circles from the bigger ones. We poked wooden sticks into the sphere and the circles are attached to one another forming the constellations with wooden sticks and hot glue. We hope to bring curiosity and the desire to learn more about Nancy Holt's "Sun Tunnels" with "Connecting Constellations".

"Sun Tunnels" (1973 -76)
USGS 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Map
LUCIN, UT and PIGEON MOUNTAIN, UT