Artery Sunwork
August 1993
Granite, bronze, and steel
16 × 8 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 × 2.4 m)
Artery Sunwork (1991–93) was commissioned for the headquarters of Artery Organization, Inc., in Bethesda, Maryland, just north of the DC line. A mature expression of John Van Alstine's Celestial Works series, the sculpture functions as a solar calendar, aligned on a true north–south axis. At solar noon, a suspended bronze element casts a shadow that records each day's position within the annual cycle, reaching its longest point at the summer solstice and its shortest at the winter solstice.
Inspired by prehistoric solar monuments, the work unites monumental granite, bronze, and steel in a sculpture that bridges art, science, and landscape. By transforming the changing movement of sunlight into a visible measure of time, Artery Sunwork invites viewers to experience the enduring rhythms of the natural world within a contemporary setting.
MORE INFO: Artery Sunwork chapter in AMERICAN MONUMENTS
Artery Sunwork
August 1993
Granite, bronze, and steel
16 × 8 × 8 ft (4.9 × 2.4 × 2.4 m)
Artery Sunwork (1991–93) was commissioned for the headquarters of Artery Organization, Inc., in Bethesda, Maryland, just north of the DC line. A mature expression of John Van Alstine's Celestial Works series, the sculpture functions as a solar calendar, aligned on a true north–south axis. At solar noon, a suspended bronze element casts a shadow that records each day's position within the annual cycle, reaching its longest point at the summer solstice and its shortest at the winter solstice.
Inspired by prehistoric solar monuments, the work unites monumental granite, bronze, and steel in a sculpture that bridges art, science, and landscape. By transforming the changing movement of sunlight into a visible measure of time, Artery Sunwork invites viewers to experience the enduring rhythms of the natural world within a contemporary setting.
MORE INFO: Artery Sunwork chapter in AMERICAN MONUMENTS
