Starry Transit Cabinet

Starry Transit_day view of cabinet two drawers open

Starry Transit_panorama in shape of cross showing observatory space

Starry Transit_night view of cabinet and machines in observatory

Starry Transit_cast iron machine with two round maps

Starry Transit_round map detail brass rings

Starry Transit_day view in observatory with mirror cabinet machine

72" high x 50" wide x 27" deep

2004

wood, glass, nickel, etched copper plates, found materials, pigments

The Starry Transit cabinet is made from an early 20th century store display case set on top of a new mahogany cabinet with drawers that viewers can open. The display case has a tableau of constellation models, including Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Pegasus, and Taurus. Taxidermied starlings are perched in the constellation models.

The drawers in the cabinet contain etched metal plates showing the spring and fall constellations visible in the northern hemisphere along with 1870's school maps of North and South America, with the major bird migration routes delineated with pins and string.

Photograph by Eric Ferguson.