Location: Center of Southwest Studies Gallery
Join us in celebrating the summer solstice on Thursday, June 20. At the dawn of the solstice, a spiral of sunlight from the Center's solstice window makes its way across the gallery walls, creating an impressive display. Arrive early to ensure you don't miss the display! Light refreshments will be provided, along with music by keyboardist Jonas Grushkin.
The solstice window is situated in the upper northeast corner of the Center's exhibition gallery. Created by Denver artist Scott Parsons through Colorado’s Art in Public Places Program, the window was designed to integrate with the building’s architecture as a tribute to the solstice markers of the Ancestral Puebloans of Southwest Colorado. The spiral cast by the solstice window is visible for several weeks before and after the summer solstice, but is sharpest on solstice morning. Moving with the rotation of the earth, the spiral makes its journey across the gallery wall, fading as the sun rises higher in the sky.
The spiral is a significant symbol in the solstice markers of the Ancestral Puebloans of Southwest Colorado, reflecting their deep understanding of astronomy and their connection to the natural world. During the solstices and equinoxes, sunlight would interact with the spirals in specific ways, indicating the time of year. The Ancestral Puebloans relied on these markers to determine the best times for planting and harvesting crops, as well as for scheduling important communal and religious activities. Spirals are thought to represent various concepts in Puebloan culture, including the journey of life, cycles of time, and the interconnectedness of all things. The alignment of these markers with celestial events reflects a spiritual connection to the cosmos. For the Ancestral Puebloans, the sun and its cycles were integral to their spiritual beliefs and practices, symbolizing renewal and the balance between earth and sky, among other things.
Admission and parking are free.