If you haven't stopped by the Sun Circle yet, put it on your "to do" list! We took a quick walk (it was really windy and cold outside today!) and were stunned by the beauty of the sun circle and ocean beyond. Scroll down to see a few photos.
The Sun Circle Sculpture has been designed as a sculpture attuned to the solar cycles that guide our planet and our lives. Based on solar geometries, the installation consists of a ring or “henge” of seven-foot columnar basalt columns from the Columbia River Basin in Moses Lake, Washington.
At two points along the circle, there are pairs of stone pillars, set four to five inches apart that demarcate the sunrise and sunset locations on the spring and fall equinox dates. At the key moments on these two days, the sun’s rays will pass between the gap in the stones, creating a spectacular sunburst. At four points along the circle, single stone pillars will denote the locations of the sunrise and sunset on the solstice dates, acting as parens for the extreme points of the sun rise on the horizon. Single stone pillars mark the north and south axis of the circle to complete the design and provide directional bearings. Although the effect is especially dramatic during equinox and solstice events, the locations of the stones will help to understand solar positions throughout the year.
The rough stone monoliths maintain their natural finish in harmony with the simplicity and serenity of the seaside site. Basalt was selected as the material for the sculpture since it forms naturally in monolithic shapes and is one of the predominant types of stone that form the geology at this site. Eight of the stones include a simple contoured cut that will express an aspect of “capturing” the sun along its journey. The stone pairs at the equinox locations also signify an abstraction of a conversation between two persons as they view the solar path. At the center of the installation is a circular stone dais: the geometric center that provides the key vantage point to experience all of these solar events from a single location. This platform is etched with inscriptions that help the viewer to understand the annual cycle.
Most people do not realize that the sun appears in a different location each day of the year. This sculpture will help people to understand this concept in a clear and meaningful way. The creation of this astronomical construct provides a thought-provoking tool to broaden the viewer’s experience to include the sky and the solar system beyond.
Celebrating the sun's path has a long tradition in many cultures. Too often the deep essentials of our life on this planet are ignored. This sculpture speaks more about the passage of time, the changing seasons, the cycles of life, and how we experience them in relationship to our surroundings. It is a marker and reference point to understand that we are constantly moving, even when standing still.
The shape, structure and texture of basalt depend on how and where it erupted — whether into the sea, in an explosive eruption or as creeping lava flows, the classical image of Hawaiian basalt eruptions.
In columnar basalt, during the cooling of a thick lava flow, fractures form: much like the process of muddy water to wet mud, and then to dry and fractured cracked mud. The lava shrinks as it cools, and pressure cracks the young rock into shapes that offer the greatest stress relief with the fewest cracks. Because there is not perfectly even cooling, there are three- to eight-sided columns, though six-sided columns are the most common. The size of the columns depends loosely on the rate of cooling; very rapid cooling may result in very small columns, while slow cooling is more likely to produce large columns.
I am looking forward to spending a few moments during the Winter Solstice at the Sun Circle----perhaps you would like to join me?
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And all who entered the Sun Circle were inspired by the love, art science and the mystery of the universe"
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| A spectacular viewing spot to see the ocean beyond |
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| The color and texture of the basalt is gorgeous! |
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| It was very windy and the grasses were swishing away! |
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| The Boardwalk leading to the Sun Circle |
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| The textures and shapes of the rocks are captivating |
