The breathtaking landscape of the Hudson River has long been a magnet for explorers and settlers seeking a dynamic natural landscape. One such dramatic spot in the Highlands region is a vision that transports us to an entirely different time – a glimpse into a rich and mysterious past. Nestled improbably on an island, between mountains and shoreline, are the ruins of a Celtic castle and its arsenal. This indelible image has mesmerized passersby since Scottish businessman Francis Bannerman built his estate there in 1908. The crumbling castle, ravaged by time and weather, in itself evokes a sense of otherworldliness. Only 50 miles north of New York City, Pollepel (or Polopel) Island is an intersection of the striking natural landscape of the present and the intriguing legends of the past. It’s timeless landscape below and the vault of stars above hold the mystery of an even more distant past: the indigenous Lenape’s believed in the “White Road,” the path one travels between this world and the next. A major new public art project by internationally recognized artist Melissa McGill, CONSTELLATION will transform this ruin into a poetic and poignant experience for today’s explorers. A large–scale sculptural installation, CONSTELLATION brings together light and form and connects history to the present day. A series of 17 slender, tapered aluminum poles will be installed on the island at heights ranging from 40 to 80 feet tall. Small solar powered LED lights will be installed on the top of each pole, giving the appearance of stars floating independently in the night sky. The configuration of the poles creates a visual vertical rhythm around the ruin that draws the eye upward and accentuates presence and absence. As the sun goes down, these lights will merge one by one with stars in the night sky. Hovering around the perimeter of the castle ruin, they will refer to features of the structure still standing as well as those that no longer exist. CONSTELLATION will have many vantage points on both shores of the Hudson River, including commuter trains, nearby hiking trails and roadways. Following the tradition of the Hudson River School, CONSTELLATION connects past and present and brings new energy to this majestic part of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands State Park. Constellation is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Constellation must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extend permitted by law. Facing the stars
Hope-a new constellation
Waiting for us to map it,
Waiting for us to name it
Together
-Richard Blanco from the poem “One Today” written and performed for the 57th Inauguration of President Barack Obama
All rights reserved.
