Mount Wilson Observatory presents a new installation in its Arts @ the Observatory offerings with Of Sea and Sky, a science/art exhibition by artists Rebeca Méndez and Stephen Nowlin, premiering on Saturday, July 20, 1:00pm to 5:00pm, inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope. Of Sea and Sky examines human-to-nature relationships against the backdrop of space cosmology and Earth ecology. The exhibition includes an immersive video piece by Méndez projected on a 25-foot diameter screen, and large-scale print works by Nowlin mounted along the dome’s perimeter encircling the massive telescope. In their thematically related practices, both Méndez and Nowlin create art that lives in the intersections of the poetic and scientific
Of Sea and Sky will be open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm every weekend from July 20 through October 20, 2024, except on these three consecutive Sunday concert dates: August 11, September 8, October 6. An artists’ reception will open the exhibit on July 20 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, and is open to the public. The exhibition is free to attend, however donations made either online or at the door are appreciated. Of Sea and Sky is made possible by a grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance and funding from Mount Wilson Institute. For more information and to donate, please visit: https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/ofseaandsky
The Cosmic Café, located above the parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting: https://www.mtwilson.edu/cosmic-cafe In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café is offering various lunch items and sweet treats from Little Flower Café https://littleflowercandyco.com
ABOUT MWO
Since its founding in 1904 by astronomer and visionary George Ellery Hale, the research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Perched on top of Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory boasts a rich history and significant contributions to science and the heritage of Los Angeles. The Observatory’s 100-inch Telescope—the world’s largest telescope from 1917 to 1949—forever changed our understanding of the scale and nature of the Universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today.
Mount Wilson Institute has independently operated and maintained the Mount Wilson Observatory since 1989 under a long-term agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer months the Institute produces programs including observing sessions through the historic telescopes (the largest in the world made available to the public), lectures, concerts, art exhibits, educational programs, and more. Many of these cultural offerings are presented inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope.
PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory, as it is located on U.S. Forest Service land. A day pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe. The $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at other locations around Los Angeles before heading up. Click here to go to the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about the $5 Adventure Pass and where to buy them. The Shell station in La Canada at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway should be selling them as well.
NOT ADA-COMPLIANT
Please be advised that access to the dome performances is via a 53-step staircase. There is no ADA-compliant access.
For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: https://www.mtwilson.edu/visiting
