#spilhaus

THE SUN TRIANGLE The sides of the sun triangle point to the four seasonal positions of the sun at solar noon in New York. The shortest bottom side points to the sun's lowest position on the winter solstice at noon about Dec. 21. The longest point side points to the sun on the spring and fall equinoxes at noon about March 21 and Sept. 23. The steepest side points to the sun's highest position on the summer solstice at noon about June 21.

This unusually functional sculpture lives in the sunken plaza of the McGraw-Hill Building at 1221 Avenue of the Americas. It was designed by Athelstan F. Spilhaus, a geophysicist/meteorologist/dreamer/futurist/inventor who was an inter-disciplinarian after my own heart. His work (which includes heading a committee that urged the White House to adopt recycling in the 60s) is a reminder to investigate and question the context of things, especially the patch of ground you call home at any given moment.