Lunar Drift (2014)

Lunar Drift’s purpose is to cause the viewer to reflect upon the universe and create a sense of connection with it.  When we gaze at both the sun and the moon we are forced to ask ourselves the question, what are we when compared to the universe? While we are just a small part of the universe we are connected to it in a deeply personal way. Lunar Drift’s larger piece is as if one is truly looking at the night sky and it gives a clear view at how the moon is forever moving and changing from our perspective. The smaller piece, displays the different views of the sky in order to convey the sun and its journey that it takes every day. The two dials are the most important part, as they slowly turn throughout the day. We are affected by them both directly and indirectly, such as how the weather can affect our mood. The unconscious feelings that are invoked on a sunny day compared to a dim day. We feel comfort as we look at the moon in the long darkness of night. One feels an equal sense of calm as they look upon the sections of Lunar Drift. Each allow us to connect art to life.

The Artists

Rebecca Cummins art often works with the subject of light and the possibilities they bring to this world. She also explores in her art the topic of science. As of 2001 she  is teaching at the University of Washington, after sixteen years at Sydney College of the Arts.

Paul DeMarinis is a media artist working with electronics. He creates artwork that explores the relationship of humanity with machines. He has been doing this since 1971. At this time he is a professor of art at Stanford University.

Details about the Piece 

The largest piece features the changing of the moon. It has a total of 365 disks taken when the moon was highest in the sky. There is one for each day of the year 2014.

The smaller piece represents the sun, showing us how it casts its light upon the sky. It has a total of 48 discs. Each column represents a month of the year 2014. The pictures were taken at 6am, noon, 6pm, and midnight.

Each dial individually tracks the movement of both the sun and the moon. You can follow both of them as they move throughout the day.

Right Now

Below is the Lunar Calendar for 2017, which allows us all to explore, in the moment, how the moon is still changing around us.

Credits

Writing and Research:

Fatimah Alsaif and Saraia Brown

Voicing:

Fatimah Alsaif

Photography and Video Recording:

Saraia Brown

Video Editing:

Fatimah Alsaif

Website Editing:

Saraia Brown

Music:

Winter Dreams – Vladimir Sterzer

Piano – Matti Paalanen

Inspire — I.D

Tu — Dave Imbernön

Sources

Cummins, Rebecca “Rebecca Cummins” University of Washington. 2001.

Cummins, Rebecca and DeMarinis, Paul “Lunar Drift: Sun and Moon Pointers” Washington State Art Commission. 2014.

I.D. “Inspire” Jamendo. 2016.

Imbernön, Dave “Tu” Jamendo. 2014

Paalanen, Matti “Piano” Jamendo. 2015

“Paul DeMarinis” Standford University.

“Rebecca Cummins” Rebecca Cummins.

Sound Effects by Paul “Clock Ticking” Youtube. 14 January 2014

Steffen Pump “Earth Zoom” Youtube. 15 November 2008.

Sterzer, Vladmir “Winter Dreams” Jamendo. 2010.

Western Today “New sculpture tracks lunar, solar movement” Western Washington University. 2014.