Eclipse image credit: Rick Fienberg / Sky & Telescope

Join us for a one-night exhibition of Jessica MacMillan’s “Insolations”, including an artist’s talk and solar eclipse viewing (weather dependent).

EXHIBITION
Where: Artica Svalbard, vei 608-3
When: open from 16:30 - 17:30 (talk by artist at 17:00)

“Insolations” is an ongoing sculpture series where the artist places spherical glass lenses into wooden bowls and leaves them outside for set periods of time. As the sun travels across the sky, the sunlight is focused to a point, and burns its path across the inside of the bowl.

Over the last two months she has burned over 40 bowls, capturing the changing angle of the sun in the sky, and the patterns of passing clouds. These works from her residency will be on view at Artica for one night only. 

SOLAR ECLIPSE
On August 12th between 18:28 - 20:19, there will be a 90% solar eclipse visible from Longyearbyen, weather permitting. If the weather is clear, Jessica will set out several wooden bowls on a hilltop near the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to capture the two-hour eclipse in the burns. (See the map below.)

Visitors are invited to visit during the burning, and watch the eclipse from the hilltop. Eclipse safety glasses will be provided for the first 20 visitors, first come, first served. NOTE: Never observe the sun with the naked eye or with homemade equipment. Only use certified solar filters, solar telescopes or eclipse glasses to view the sun or a solar eclipse.

Hiking shoes are recommended, and bring something to sit on. This area is outside of the polar bear safety zone so please take responsibility for your own safety and transport to the site.

Check back here for updates on whether the eclipse viewing and burning will take place. 

Residency and production support for "Insolations" generously provided by:

Arts Council Norway, The American-Scandinavian Foundation and Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond