Monday is a significant day, especially in a place like San Antonio. And there's no one better to explain why than Urban 15's Catherine Cisneros.
"Monday is the summer solstice."
The solstice marks the longest day of the year, but to understand why it's important to Urban 15, you need some back story, which is centered at San Antonio International Airport.
"In the long-term parking lot there is this piece by Christopher Janney called Passing Light. It's a beautiful piece. What he did was he put plexi-glass panels on the roof."
The sun shines through those panels, casting wonderfully-colored light below.
"Then on the Solstice Day itself he marked the spot itself where it hit San Antonio, at the exact zenith. These swaths of light that move throughout the space every single day," she explained.
When Solstice rolled 'round that first year after the art had been installed, she and husband George got inspired.
"We just said, 'We have to do something! This is just too exciting.' So we dressed all in white and we ran over there. Of course I danced, George played some music. We had giant weather balloons going through the place," she laughed, "and our son was documenting it. And it became a tradition."
So each summer solstice a merry band of artists descend on the parking garage to artfully mark the day.
"One of the most interesting things to see is how fast the earth is spinning. Because you see it--it's right in front of your eyes."
The sun's path through the art installation vividly shows the sun's passing, time marching by. And Cisneros says it goes by quickly.
"You have t10 minutes and you're already way over. The earth is spinning so fast."
The 2 p.m. Monday, June 20, performance is free, but of course, you'll have to pay for parking.
Find more on Urban 15 here.
Find more on the solstice performance here.
