This artwork commemorates the Great Conjunction of Jupiter
and Saturn that happened on 21 December 2020. These two giants
of our solar system align about every 20 years, but this is a “Great
Conjunction” because their alignment is so close, they will appear as a double
planet. Such conjunctions are very bright and are often referred to as the
“Christmas Star” because some believe this is the “star” that led the Wise Men
to Jesus on the night Jesus was born. The last time such a close alignment
happened, and was visible to Earthlings, was in 1226. As well, this conjunction
occurs on the Winter Solstice in the Age of Aquarius; such a combination of
staggering celestial events augurs well after a most tumultuous few years on
Earth. In the artwork, the view is not seen as if from Earth, but from the back
side of Jupiter and Saturn. In the distance, you can see the Sun, small because
it is faraway; and next to the Sun, in its close orbit, you can see the Earth
(which is scaled larger than it would actually be if you were viewing it from
behind Saturn, but I wanted it to be visible). The celestial world is full of
wonder and beauty—it is the home where we live and is worth watching. Like Jack
Horkheimer used to say, “Keep looking up!” Ever since Jack Horkheimer’s death
in 2010, I can’t help but sense that he is now “looking down”, maybe from
somewhere behind Saturn.
You can purchase a print of this artwork at FineArtAmerica.