Draco the Dragon from You Are Here

Draco the Dragon

"Mythological accounts of Draco vary considerably. By some this serpent is the guardian of the stars (the golden apples) which hang from the Pole tree in the Garden of Darkness. Others claim that this was the snake snatched by Minerva from the giants, and whirled to the sky before it had a chance to uncoil, thus twisted it sleeps to-day in the heavens around the axes of the world.

Draco with Ursa's major and minor

In north temperate latitudes this constellation never sets (a circumpolar constellation) and the Greeks therefore saw it as an emblem of eternal vigilance, symbolized by this Dragon of the Garden, guarding the precious fruit. Juno, it is said, presented these golden apples to Jupiter on the day of their nuptials, and rewarded Draco for his faithful services by placing him among the stars. 

Draco wit Bootes, Canes Venatici and Ursa minor

The Legend relates that the serpent was slain by Hercules, and in the old maps Hercules is represented as crushing the head of the Dragon under his foot... (see image below) There seems evident reference to God's interview with the serpent in the Garden of Eden. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel."

from Star Lore by William Tyler Olcott

Draco with Hercules, Corona Borealis and Ursa minor

Hercules holds in his left hand a miniature version of the tree with golden apples teeming with snakes as a symbol of his domination over and slaying of Draco the Dragon

Draco with Bootes and Ursa major

Follow this link to view images of the making of 

Draco the Dragon

http://kennintzel.com/youarehere/youarehere-images.html 

and click on the Draco icon in the side bar 

Draco and Ursa minor

A short video about You Are Here

An eight minute video by Jenny Woodward

explaining the concept and making of 

You Are Here

https://vimeo.com/66110832

click on the link

You Are Here, a brief description

Upshot at MIA

You Are Here is a mixed media sculptural installation that recreates the constellations of the night sky in physical form, studding them with starlight and suspending them overhead to create a life-size stellarium. 

fig 1

You Are Here was inspired by my first look at a celestial atlas and its detailed illustrations of the constellations in corporeal form, a menagerie of wild and domesticated animals, reptiles, insects, creatures of the sea, birds in flight, symbolic objects, heroines, heroes and mythological beasts all posed in a celestial tableau. The more I looked at these illustrations the more I wanted to be among these stellar constellations, surrounded by their physical presence.

fig 2

Upon studying the distinctive features of celestial atlases I discovered there are two ways constellations are depicted, the internal view, as we see them from earth looking up into he sky (fig 1) and the external view, as they are seen from above looking down toward the earth (fig 2). Seeing both these front and back views only strengthened my desire to transform the constellations into three-dimensions, completing a metamorphosis of sorts, from points of light in the sky to basic shapes to illustrated figures to physical form.

Ursa major and minor in fading light

The animal constellation figures have been created through a kind of craft-taxidermy, using flocking for fur and sequins for scales among other materials. 

Capella the Goat flocked

The sequin scales of Draco the dragon

The human constellations have been cobbled together from tailor and dress forms, wig heads, boot trees and mannequin parts

boot trees and mannequin limbs

representing generic lay figures or mannequins that the viewer can project onto, placing themselves in the center of this fanciful universe.

Perseus in Progress

Perseus in flight

You Are Here began as a project of Creative Capital in 2009 This accumulative installation premiered in 2013 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of Next Wave Art 
and is on view at the South Terminal Gallery at the Miami International Airport thru Spring 2016.

constellations and air travel

You Are Here at Miami International Airport

You Are Here

 now on view

at

Miami International Airport

South Terminal Gallery

(4th floor / Terminal H)

Stay tuned for more images from the exhibit

Side View

You Are Here title wall with images from historic celestial atlases
and installation guide

Artist's project statement, installation and in progress images

View from the floor of Terminal H / International Arrivals

Libra, Virgo, Coma Bernieces, Leo Major and Leo Minor

Hercules, Draco, Ursa Minor, Cepheus, Lynx, Ursa Major, Canes Venatici, Bootes, Corona Borealis

Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Pegasus, Andromeda, Triangulum

Spacial Gesture

Spacial Gesture

a happening

at LMAKProjects

NYC

December 2008

Last Chance to see You Are Here at BAM

After an extended engagement at 

the Brooklyn Academy of Music

You Are Here

must close on

 June 28th

Your last opportunities to see the installation

Sunday June 22nd  5 - 7 pm

Tuesday June 24th  5:30 - 7:30 pm

Wednesday June 25th  5:30 - 7:30 pm

Thursday June 26th  5:30 - 7:30 pm

Friday June 27th  5:30 - 7:30 pm

Saturday June 28th 5 - 7 pm

BAM Cafe / Lepercq Space 

Peter Jay Sharp Building / 2nd Floor

30 Lafayette Ave

Brooklyn

Skip to my Lou

Video and Photographs from

Skip to My Lou from

Frances Faye's Folk Song Sing-A-Long

Follow the link for video of

https://vimeo.com/98169081

Videography by Character Generators

"Lost my man now what'll I do?"

"I'll get another one nicer than you"

"Skip to my lou my darlin'"

"He's gone again, He's gone again, He's gone again"

"My man wears a number twelve shoe"

setting change

the machinist at work

"He's got big feet and he's awkward too"

Photos © Richard Termine

Shortnin' Bread

Video and Photographs of Shortnin' Bread

from Frances Faye's Folk Song Sing-A-Long

as performed by yours truly

Follow this link for video

https://vimeo.com/98159334

Video by Character Generators

"Three little children lyin' in bed"

"Two are sick and the other 'most dead"

"Sent for the doctor, doctor said 'feed these children..."

"Old Bob Bruder and a rocket named Ned..."

"Butch the robber, smart in the head..."

"When the cops came, they caught them and read..."

"Looked in his loot bag and one of 'em said..."

Chorus

"A hungry man came home and fed, found his woman sleepin' in bed..."

"Wanted to shoot her full of lead, but they both ended up eatin'..."

Chorus 

"Whole world's sick or haven't you read..."

"Cause all the politician's are hot in the head..."

Chorus

Chorus ad infinitum...

Photos

© Richard Termine