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UMW Art Community Prepares Sculpture for Celestial Event
It’s a little known fact that the North Star that was overhead when the pyramids were built is not the same star as our North Star now (Polaris). And in about a thousand years, a completely different star will be our North Star. Because of a slight wobble in the Earth’s rotation, the pole star position is not fixed. Our “guiding light” changes. It will take 26,000 years for the wobble in Earth’s rotation to complete one cycle and return our current North Star, Polaris, to its pole position. During this cycle, research indicates there will most likely be 11 stars in the right location and of the right magnitude to serve as Earth’s North Star. We’re curious how a transition on the celestial scale would be marked and celebrated here on Earth. JUMP!STAR is that celebration. It’s an initiative to work with communities to invent the traditions – a thousand years in advance – to be passed down to commemorate the eventual changing of the North Star. Plans for this intergalactic event are underway and Kansas has been chosen to be the home for the premiere of Jump!Star in the summer of 2019. The rural nature of the Flint Hills region nurtures a community of trust. The urban nature of Wichita creates cultural vibrancy. The combined strengths of these forces, in conjunction with satellites in New York, Los Angeles and Berlin, constructs a model of cooperation and collaboration that is the generative foundation of this project (www.jumpstar.love/about).
Twelve large-scale, illuminated paper sculptures comprise a key part of this celestial celebration. Artist George Ferrandi designed these “social sculptures” and concept for the event. Ferrandi utilizes Japanese “Nebuta” techniques to celebrate each of the eventual pole stars. Students, faculty, and community members of UMW helped construct Thuban, a massive sting-ray meets serpent type of creature. Construction and painting of Thuban began in 2016 and was completed during Ferrandi’s visit during the Spring semester 2018. Ferrandi and choreographers are returning to UMW this year to teach students and faculty participating in the festival how to move Thuban during the performance. You can keep up-to-date on all Jump!Star happenings by following on Instagram.