DARK MATTERS

About

The project comprises of new temporary installations that will be presented in various sites across the city over a period of 12 months, and launched in conjunction with this year’s Science Festival theme of Light and Enlightenment. Commissions are presented at Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street and Castle Mill Works (Former North British Rubber company HQ), Gilmore Park, Fountainbridge. 

Areas of research for this project include investigations into ancient astronomical almanacs, Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the creation of new constellations, seeing the invisible, transforming the Infrared and spectrometric data from distant galaxies and nebulae, and freezing and unfreezing sound.

Currently the UK ATC’s projects include working with NASA on infrared telescopes, determining the formation of these galaxies and probing the nature of dark matter and dark energy with The E-ELT (European Extremely large telescope).

Edinburgh Printmakers and Castle Mill Works, Fountainbridge will launch the project and present installations by artist David Faithfull and Dr Hermine Schnetler, artist Alastair Clark and Dr Eckhard Sutorius, and artist Mike Inglis working with Space Engineer Martin Black.

DARK MATTERS is a collaborative partnership between Edinburgh Printmakers, the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, and Edinburgh University, and is curated by artist David Faithfull.

EVENTS:

ECLIPSE (Moon draws Sun/Earth draws Moon)

Temporary Artworks Programme at Castle Mill Works

Launch Event

20 March 2015, 9.00-11am, Free

Venue: Castle Mill Works (Former North British Rubber company HQ), Gilmore Park, Fountainbridge

As the new moon eclipses the morning sun at 9.45am on 20 March 2015, Northern Europe will be cast into darkness.

In conjunction with this spectacular celestial event, artist David Faithfull and Dr Hermine Schnetler from the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, have been commissioned by Edinburgh Printmakers to present ECLIPSE at Castle Mill Works. A dramatic visual artwork, that mirrors and responds to the phases of this solar/lunar extravaganza.

This commission is part of DARK MATTERS developed by Edinburgh Printmakers, the UK ATC, and Edinburgh University to bring artists, astronomers and space engineers together to explore the subject of deep space.

Retinal Damage Hazard Warning

Never Look directly at the sun, particularly during an eclipse.

Observing the Sun can be dangerous without the proper precautions. During an eclipse, improper viewing can lead to the development of "eclipse blindness" or retinal burns. The result is a loss of visual function, which may be either temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the damage. The danger to vision is significant because photic retinal injuries occur without any feeling of pain (there are no pain receptors in the retina), and the visual effects do not occur for at least several hours after the damage is done.

Edinburgh Printmakers urges attendees to make use of appropriate protective eyewear and in light of this warning does not accept responsibility for any physical damage visitors receive through reckless viewing of the eclipse during ECLIPSE (Moon draws Sun/Earth draws Moon).

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html

DARK MATTERS Launch Preview

Friday 20 March 2015, 6.30-8.30pm, Free

Venue: Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street

Preview event for the launch of Dark Matters, a partnership project between Edinburgh Printmakers, the UK ATC, and Edinburgh University, curated by David Faithfull.

This project brings together artists, astronomers and space engineers to work in collaboration to explore the subject of deep space through the production of ambitious site-specific temporary installations that will be presented throughout the city of Edinburgh over a period of 12 months, in association with the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

This launch exhibition presents new collaborative commissions by artist Alastair Clark working with astronomer Dr Eckhard Sutorius, and artist Mike Inglis working with Space Engineer Martin Black.

DARK MATTERS Gallery Discussion

Saturday 21 March 2015, 2-3pm, Free

Venue: Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street

Curator David Faithfull will lead a discussion with artists Alastair Clark and Mike Inglis about their new commissions sited in the galleries at Edinburgh Printmakers.

Dark Matters is a partnership project between Edinburgh Printmakers, the UK ATC, and Edinburgh University, it brings together artists, astronomers and space engineers, to work in collaboration to explore the subject of deep space.

DARK MATTERS Lithography Demonstration by Alastair Clark

Saturday 04 April 2015, 2-3.30pm, £3 each/£5 for 2

Artist and master printer Alastair Clark, will introduce his new gallery installation 'Star Clusters', commissioned by Edinburgh Printmakers for the exhibition Dark Matters. He will then deliver a demonstration of the printmaking technique used to create the work, the process of lithography.