These vessels are carved from 150 to 200 year old English Oak and are arranged to align with specific positions of the sun.  The largest vessel, the one with no charring, is aligned with true south, casting a beam of light through a carved slot each day at “true” noon.  In Cincinnati true noon is 1:38 pm in summer and 12:38 pm in winter.  The beam of light is at its shortest on June 21^st, the longest day of the year.  This day is known as the Summer Solstice, a time when the sun is nearly overhead and when the beam appears as a spot of light on the pedestal.  Winter solstice, December 21^st, is the shortest day of the year.  On this day with the sun low in the sky, this beam of light is at its longest and it appears on the grass in the center of the circle.  The beam forms a line between the center of the circle and the south vessel at noon.

The six charred vessels are arranged so that three are on the east side of the south vessel and three on the west side.  The middle vessels in each set of three are aligned to true east and west.  The east one aligns with the sun at sunrise on the fall and spring equinox, and the west one with sunset on those days.  Of the two vessels closest to the true south vessel, one aligns with the sun at sunrise and one at sunset on the winter solstice when the sun makes its shortest arc across the sky.  The northernmost two vessels, the ones furthest away from the true south vessel, relate to the summer solstice when the sun makes its longest arc.

The curving line made by the vessel shape is reminiscent of a flame.  There is an ascending gesture to the vessels on the sunrise side of the circle, and a descending gesture to the vessels on the sunset side.  The charred surface of the vessels makes a direct link with the nature of fire and with the darkness of night.  The true south vessel relates to the noon sun so there is no charring or reference to night on that piece.  The work as a whole, sited in the center of the Plaza of the Sun, depicts our dependence on the sun and how our individual relationship to it underpins our relationship to one another.  This piece was selected as a result of an international competition.  The work was created in Wales and shipped to the site.  It was dedicated on June 21, 2003.

To log this cache you must do the following:

1. Take a picture with you and/or you GPS unit with the Vessels in the back ground.

2. Count how many pillar are not chared and enter that number in the password.

The Virtual Segway Tour Series

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#2 Smale Park

#3 The Brigade

#4 Our Queen

#5 Yeatmans Cove

#6 L & N Pedestrian Bridge

 #7 Losantaville

#8 The Golden Arches

#9 International Gardens

#10 So Shiny!

#11 Woodhenge

#12 Air, Water, Wind

#13 What is That?

#14 How high can it go?

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