[Photo credit: Mount Wilson Observatory]
The event, running from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., will allow participants to view art installations and observe the night sky through the observatory’s famous 100-inch telescope.
Méndez will showcase an immersive video projection within the observatory’s dome, while Nowlin will display large-scale print works on sections of the dome floor. The 100-inch telescope, instrumental in Edwin Hubble’s discovery of the expanding universe, will be available for public viewing during the event.
The exhibition “Of Sea and Sky” aims to connect themes of truth-seeking, space cosmology and Earth ecology, exploring diverse perspectives on knowledge-gathering across human and animal realms.
Nowlin’s work, stemming from his Chapel Studio practice, probes astronomy and cosmology through an artistic lens. Méndez, an interdisciplinary artist, examines reciprocal relationships and environmental justice in a multi-species world amid climate change and mass extinction. Her research-based works manifest as immersive video and sound installations, film, and performance.
The Pasadena Art Alliance, an organization dedicated to fostering appreciation for contemporary visual arts in Southern California, provided grant funding for the exhibition. Since 1976, the alliance has supported artists and art institutions, focusing on both established and unconventional projects.
Mount Wilson Observatory, founded in 1904 by George Ellery Hale, has played a significant role in modern astronomy. Located on a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, it houses some of the most important telescopes in astronomical history.
The observatory and grounds are open to the public for visits year-round. During spring and summer, it hosts various public programs including observing sessions, lectures, concerts, and educational events.
Cosmic Art Night is limited to 40 participants, with tickets priced at $200.
For tickets and other information, visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/cosmicart092224/.
