Celestial Skies features a selection of images by Vermont artist Brian Drourr, who for the past twelve years has been photographing the star trails, Milky Way, and solar eclipses of rural Vermont and New England. These stunning images of the night sky – known also as astrophotography – convey the sense of awe and wonder the artist encounters when outdoors observing the evening stars. Using a combination of digital SLR cameras, tripods, and the ubiquitous camera phone, the artist shares with viewers the exhilaration and sense of being present amidst the starlit heavens. As stargazing has become less accessible to urban residents due to light pollution, astrophotographers such as Drourr must often travel to remote, dark-sky locations so as to create images for others to experience.
Celestial Skies is scheduled to coincide with the total solar eclipse visible in Burlington, Vermont on April 8, 2024. As a source of mystery and fascination, solar eclipses – whether foreboding omens or inspirations for scientific discovery – have captivated imaginations for millennia. Brian Drourr’s dramatic imagery conveys the excitement and power of this rare event that creates darkness from day, as the artist shares with us the sublime beauty of the night sky that so defines human experience.
Presented as part of Obscura BTV, the City of Burlington's official total solar eclipse.
Brian Drourr, Lake Moxy Milky Way, digital print
Obscura BTV is sponsored in part by Northfield Savings Bank, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, Hotel Vermont, Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor, and Hilton Garden Inn. Presenting Media Sponsor, WCAX. Media sponsor, Seven Days.
