Eclipsing Stars Family Day Offers Stellar Celebration of Space

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Media Arts will host art-lovers of all ages to enjoy their latest projection-based art exhibition entitled Eclipsing Stars. Local artist Alex lonesav Staley collaborated with astrophysicist Moiya McTier to bring the timely exhibition to life.

SATURDAY, MAR. 30

FEED Media Arts is hosting a family day event as part of programming for their latest projection-based art exhibition, Eclipsing Stars. Erie-based artist Alex "lonesav" Staley and astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier brought the immersive exhibit to life to gear up for the solar eclipse on April 8.

Eclipsing Stars is the debut exhibition of FEED Media Arts Center, an exhibition and work space focused on digital media arts founded by Benton Bainbridge in 2022. The cosmic exhibition expands throughout seven rooms detailing the stories of mythologies based on seven star-inspired goddesses.

"The goddesses teach lessons — they're quirky and funny — and they have really compelling stories to tell," curator Liz Slagus said. "They're meant to take you on a journey through an alternate universe and explain eclipses through their different perspectives."

Eclipsing Stars Family Day is part of programming for locals to prepare and celebrate the solar eclipse. Staley will lead a tour throughout the exhibition, along with demonstrations from local artists and designers. Attendees of the program will receive a free pair of viewing glasses for the eclipse and have the opportunity to create their own viewing stations.

Staley and McTier were inspired by Afro-mythology to share the stories of the universe "that are not meant to be hidden away, accessible only to scientists and high-powered telescopes. This exhibition was inspired by the idea of creating an Afro-futuristic mythology that both served as representation to Black Americans as they exist today but also describes deep sciences surrounding eclipses," Staley explained.

The exhibition was made possible by the "In The Path of Totality" initiative led by the Simons Foundation, Slagus said. The programming is focused on communities along the 115-mile-wide path that have fewer science engagement opportunities. The Simons Foundation is supporting museums, cultural centers, festivals, rural engagement hubs, and other organizations stretching from Texas to Maine in celebration of the historic eclipse.  "The show is meant to get people excited and thinking about the upcoming eclipse," Slagus said.

The grand opening of the exhibition was held on Feb. 16. The FEED Media Arts Center is hosting the Eclipsing Stars Family Day event on Saturday, March 30. The exhibition will be on view until Saturday, May 27.

Noon to 4 p.m. // FEED Media Arts Center, 1307 State St. // $10-15 // Tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com