Chris Green, Heart of the Sun, 2011, mirror, concrete, stainless steel, PS 48, Queens

Heart of the Sun is a permanent outdoor public art installation commissioned by the NYC School Construction Authority/ Public Art for Public Schools program for PS/IS 48 Q’s new school building in Jamaica, Queens. The overall design was developed in collaboration with 2nd grade students over the course of a 20 week residency. The artwork is comprised of four precast concrete skate-park components, landscaping using the LEED-certified Stabiligrid system, and a set of 4 adjustable mirrors mounted to the school's parapet. The concrete forms are engraved with 52 student-generated petroglyphs inspired by Sun symbols from around the world. The roof-mounted mirrors reflect morning sunlight into the primarily shaded west-facing courtyard in order to illuminate the student's golden Sun symbols at various points in the day. This site-specific installation was designed to provide teachers as PS/IS 48 an interactive resource for educational programs in astronomy, art history, geometry, design, world culture, and ecology.