The 26 stones of the henge each represent a particular letter of the Roman Alphabet. Each stone is precisely positioned according to an alphabetic configuration which Michael Winkler developed to visualize the patterning encoded in the signs of language (see “Henge of Light & Language”). But this same henge of stones also defines the geographic locations which align to the sun and moon during celestial events. Henge Lab reveals how features of human awareness (which were unintentionally replicated in the signs of language) reflect a meaningful synchonicity with the design of Nature–even extending to the temporal alignment of celestial events.
The GPS graphic above illustrates how, on the day of the Summer Solstice, the relative positions of the stones (shown using an enlarged alphabetic configuration at right) also mark the exact direction of sunrise (point ‘H’ on the green line) and Sunset (point B on the red line). Point R’ on the yellow line shows the South to North azimuth at Solar Noon—the sun’s rays will be traveling North, focused directly at the zero/360 degree point (point ‘E’) at Solar Noon. The stones also align to other celestial events (the image on this website’s Home page illustrates Henge Lab’s alignment with the sunrise, sunset, and azimuth of the Winter Solstice.
The image on the left shows Henge Lab’s location on the Earth. The image on the right shows a Google Earth view of its geographic location at the top of Minister’s Hill.
In addition to landscaping and the development of Henge Lab’s design, completed work on the project includes construction of a studio/residence designed and built by the artist using techniques to minimize environmental impact. The structure’s foundation consists of 19 piers which step down the hillside and rest directly on ledge. They range in height from 2 ft. to almost 7 ft.–their forms were hand constructed and excavation was with pick and shovel. The framing of the structure is of locally milled lumber which was purchased green and dried onsite. The structure includes a small 2-bedroom living space and an 800 sq.ft. studio/gallery which is currently used for project related activity. It will be used for events after project completion.
Estimated completion of the project is the Fall of 2023. But the process of developing the project is being treated as an opportunity to engage in a discussion of its concerns. When we acknowledge that there is a relationship between patterning in Nature and the features of human awareness, we begin to see ourselves in the context of something greater than the conceptions of an independent cultural materiality (cultural materiality is normally treated as not being significantly influenced by Nature). Related works produced in support of this goal are the gallery installation “Henge of Light & Language” and the “Henge of Language” drawing series.
“Henge of Language Series #1” 2018, 47 in. wide by 53 in. high (plus information panel), colored pencil and crayon on inkjet prints of the Alphabetic Henge.
The Idea for Henge Lab Evolved from Previous Works in the Ongoing Exploration:
Image from a 1989 installation titled “ILLUMINATIONS” (Curious Visions, New York) Slides of standing stones are projected on a circular arrangement of aligned paper-screens of gouache-painted ‘word-images’ (the stones were photographed earlier that year at various Megalithic sites in the Brittany Region of France).
Several works involving standing stones were developed using photographs taken at actual Megalithic sites. Past works based on linear alignments of stones and circular henges are part of an ongoing exploration of structural relationships between: language, symbolic phenomena, and the mechanisms of perception. It became apparent many years ago that early artifacts of the emergence of the symbolic mind have a design which is similar to the intuitively formulated patterns underlying the signs of language.
In the early 80’s, the exploration focused solely on the imagery and implications of word-generated forms (spelled-forms) but it gradually expanded to include a variety of symbolic phenomena. Although the word-generated forms are still the primary focus, many historical illustrations of basic concepts are modeled on circular arrangements of points. The hour and minute markings on the face of a clock and the directional markings on the dial of a compass illustrate our perception of time and space (these and other concepts depicted using circular forms are explored in relation to thought and language in the book, Extreme Measures 1989). A henge is fundamentally a monumental circle of points aligned to astronomical events. A Megalithic circle of stones is an archetypal depiction of how the patterning of human awareness is inherently synchronized with the patterning of the physical universe.
Henge Lab represents the culmination of a 40 year exploration of the patterning of the signs and systems of human communication, and their relationship to various phenomena of Nature which employ these same principles of patterning. For more information, visit: WinklerWordArt.com and read the articles, “Poetry of Zebras” & “New discoveries should reopen the discussion of signs”
Copyright © 2019 by Michael Joseph Winkler
