Celestial Fix, Army and Navy
Turnstone Estates,
Chelmsford
Celestial Fix is an embedded ceiling sculpture commissioned by Turnstone Estates, Chelmsford incorporated into the new Army and Navy Hotel, retail and residential building. The embedded artwork is an interactive light sculpture. Made from glass, light, aluminium and light source with an image from deep space known as the 'Veil Nebula' to create a work that connects the viewer with an image of the real universe.
The stars evoke a sense of awe and the inspirational importance of the stars in the history of human development, mythology and scientific exploration. Working with CHFT Hawaii, USA (Canada, France, Hawaii Telescope) personnel and scientist James Endicott from e2v (space imaging company supplier of sensors to Hubble and international terrestrial telescopes) Chelmsford, Essex to create ‘Celestial Fix’ a work that connects environment and science. It was also part of International Year of Astronomy 2009.
'Veil Nebula' mapping collaboration with scientist James Endicott from e2v to develop two new constellations for Chelmsford to be included within the artwork and Sixth Form pupils from Moulsham High School named 'shelter and 'hand' . The constellations are created from fibre optic lights and are programmed to alternate each month in relation to real celestial events occurring throughout the year whether visible or invisible to us, using an astronomy calendar on NASA website. I invited local students to work with artist Chris Lewis Jones to create music for the launch event inspired by the stars and the artwork.
Client: Turnstone Estates, Chelmsford
Value: £21,000 excluding site preparation and Materials: Toughened Glass, aluminium, and fibre optic lighting, data programmer
Date:2009
Partenrships:
Chelmsford Borough Council
Essex County Council
e2v Space Imaging, Chelmsford
CFHT Canada France Hawaii Telescope
Chelmsford High School Sixth Form
An image of the Veil Nebula provided by the Canada Hawaii France Telescope CHFT
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