Ecliptic Millennial Arch. Napier. New Zealand.
S 39° 29.830 E 176° 55.160
60H E 493064 N 5628046
This sculpture is placed on Marine Parade to line up with the position that the sun rose on the day of the dawning of the new millennium.
Waymark Code: WM3QYV
Location: New Zealand
Date Posted: 05/07/2008
Views: 20
The sculpture is made from a steel arch of round pipe. At the top two large, highly polished, domed stainless steel discs are fastened back to back. They reflect what is behind the viewer, either the rising sun over the sea, or the lights and Norfolk Island Pines of Marine Parade. The work is lined up to where the sun rose on the day of the dawning of the new millennium. At night it is lit by rings of flexible neon tube between the two discs, which shine out like a halo or rising moon or even an eclipse.
Ecliptic is the name of the path that the sun traces across the heavens throughout the four seasons. It is a reference to David's knowledge of celestial navigation which he acquired while sailing to New Zealand. The concept of the sculpture is thus drawn from direct personal experience. In "shooting the sun" the navigator brings the sun down to the horizon in the sextant's mirrors, and rocks it gently back and forth in an arc over the horizon.
The sculpture is constructed of Steel and stainless steel and is 19m long x 5.5m high, beside the sea on Marine Parade. Ecliptic was placed here by the Napier City Council Millennium Sub-committee to mark the beginning of the third millennium.
To find the point where the sun rose at the start of the millennium, follow a line from the rock through the centre of the arch to the horizon.
Title: Ecliptic Millenium Sculpture
Artist: David Trubridge.
Media (materials) used: Steel and stainless steel
Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): Marine Parade.
Date of creation or placement: 1January 2000
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