The night sky, whether full of stars or forebodingly dark, has been an inspiration for artists and writers for centuries. At the same time, illuminating the darkness has been a challenge taken on by humans as part of our attempts to master our environments and create new ones. In this program, we explore the historical and inspirational facets of the night sky through paintings, stories, and the history of Pittsburgh’s illumination in the 19th century. Featuring: Dr. Elisabeth Roark, art history professor at Chatham University; Diane Turnshek, astronomy lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University and author of Triangulation: Dark Skies; and Dr. Joel Tarr, history professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
