The Open Circle Cairn Project

Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson, Arizona
Hazmat Basement Gallery

Statement of Intention

Kivas, Cairns, Barrows, Standing Stones: Spaces created by many cultures, from the Celts to the Hopis, to bring forth a sacredness into their lives.

A place for darkness and light, for quiet and song, for sorrow and healing.

In this, "The Open Circle Cairn Project," I have attempted to create a sacred space much like those created by my ancestors, mixing the modern with the ancient: the open circle of hay with the miniature Christmas lights, the music of ambient synthesizers with the silent still dark, the Crystal Archive Prints with the archetypal symbols of the circle and the spiral.

My hope is that you enter this space and find a sacredness, inside and outside the circle, inside and outside yourself.

Stu Jenks, March 2002

Comments from Viewers on the Installation

"A piece of Conceptual Art that's actually interesting. Bravo!" — N.

"The simplicity and seemingly effortlessness of you is awesome." — Michelle

"Beautiful, special space. It feels like stumbling into a dark cave, falling into it, away from pretentious crap." — Anonymous

"This is a very spiritually empowering exhibit. Beautifully done. Thank You." — M.

"Amazing show, Stu. There's so much spirit here." — Charles

"It was incredibly powerful being in this magical, mystical place you created. That wall with you and your father was wonderful. The spiral imagery so evocative. Thanks for this experience. Love the circle of light you made. Wow. You changed my day" — Mary Ann

"A vibrant transportation into an inner spiritual space" — Charles

"Beautifully created—simple and powerful. Love the walk through the dark to the circle. Thank you." — Jo

"Peaceful, like a prayer" — Anonymous

"In the circle with you, Stu, beauty!" — Steve

"Very restful, fragrant, meditative, solitude in the middle of the city." — J.

"The installation accentuates the meaning and idea of the prints. Very enjoyable." — Matt

"What a wonderful experience of peace, spirit, magic and gravity you have given us." — Craig

List of Images

• "Painted Desert Wilderness, Arizona," Toned Gelatin Silver Print, 1998 [view]
• "Tatooine, California," Crystal Archive Print, 2000 [view]
• "The Oracle Cairn, Arizona," Crystal Archive Print, 2001 [view]
• "Old Pima County Courthouse, Tucson, Arizona," Toned Gelatin Silver Print, 1998 [view]

• "The Altar of Repose, Maundy Thursday, Tucson, Arizona," Crystal Archive Print, 2000 [view]
• "Owl's Head, Arizona," Crystal Archive Print, 2000 [view]
• "Ancestors' Circle, Arizona," Crystal Archive Print, 1999 [view]
• "The 16th Circle, Arizona," Crystal Archive Print, 2001 [view]

• "Route 626, Virginia," Gelatin Silver Print, 2001 [view]
• "The Pine Forest Spiral, Virginia," Gelatin Silver Print, 2001 [view]
• "Stu and Stuart Sleeping" (Pinhole), Gelatin Silver Print, 2001 [view]
• The Pier Polaroids: "Dew Spiral #1" [view]; "Compass Points" [view]; "Pamunkey Indian Reservation, Virginia" [view]; "Malvern Hill, Virginia" [view]; "Rock Fish Cleaned" [view]; "Smudging the Pier" [view]; "Dew Spiral #2," Polaroids, 2001
• "The Everything" (Pinhole), Gelatin Silver Print, 2001 [view]
• "9/12/01," Gelatin Silver Print, 2001 [view]

Music for The Open Circle Cairn Project

• Track 1, "Desert Prayer," Western Spaces, Steve Roach and Kevin Braheny, 12:33
• Track 2, "A Lovely Place To Be," So Flows The Current, Patrick O'Hearn, 8:46
• Track 3, "Panning the Sands," So Flows The Current, Patrick O'Hearn, 7:23
• Track 4, "Earthman," Truth and Beauty, Steve Roach, 9:44
• Track 5, "The Other Side," Dreamtime Return, Steve Roach, 13:14
• Track 6, "Turning World," Solitaire: Ritual Ground, Steve Roach and Elmar Schulte, 7:43
• Track 7, "North Sky," Solitaire: Ritual Ground, Steve Roach and Elmar Schulte, 7:25

Approximate Running Time: 66 minutes

Please visit their websites for more music by Steve Roach and Patrick O'Hearn