Among the Stars
Sarah Cartlidge
See it On Campus: Level 1
In the Production Studio, room D1387
Visitor Info
When looking at the history of astronomy, people often have a very male-dominated image of what it looked like. However, women have been a significant part of exploring, discovering, and classifying space since the beginning. This work is an homage to some of these women who were such an important part of the field of astronomy, particularly during the early 20th century. The women featured in this work are Anna Winlock, Anne Sewell Young, Annie Jump Cannon, Antonia Maury, Caroline Furness, Carolyn Shoemaker, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, Evelyn Leland, E. Margaret Burbidge, Florence Cushman, Henrietta Leavitt, Henrietta Hill Swope, Margaret Mayall, Maria Mitchell, Muriel Mussells Seyfert, Sarah Lee Lippincott, Silvia Mussells Lindsay, and Williamina Fleming. Each woman has an orb with her name on it, written in her own hand writing the way she signed her name.
Other Works
The Wall
I do not usually have an overarching theme or meaning guiding my work, so much as I am instead guided by the forms that I want to create. I often start with ideas for a shape or installation, and then build on it from there, considering what sort of meaning or idea would fit well with that form.
One idea that I keep coming back to is the idea of moving and directing the audience. How would the installation influence the way the audience interacted with the work, or moved around the space? Something else that is a part of my process is considering both the wide view and the close up view. I make certain to consider what my sculptures will look like both at a distance, when viewing the whole thing, and up close when looking at the small details.
I primarily work with fabric and other fibre materials such as yarn and thread. Often this fabric is found material, such as clothing or blankets. I find that the use of found fabric lends an additional layer of meaning to the work, and encourages people to really think about what the sculpture is made of. The use of found materials rather than new and store bought also introduces an element of chance that prevents me from over-planning my work.
Rainy Day
