8 minute read
Moonstruck
The moon has long been a symbol of the passage of time. Its ever-evolving appearance in the night sky reminds us that the only constant is change. When Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon was installed at Harpeth Hall in early March, we were not aware of how this experience with the Moon would mark a defining moment.
Looking back on the unlikely spring of 2020, the “Moon Landing at Harpeth Hall” was a beacon that united our community ahead of the historic COVID-19 global pandemic, during the March 3rd tornado, and before the straight-line wind storm that knocked out power for most of our community on May 3rd. Museum of the Moon inspired our students and teachers to gather beneath it for interdisciplinary learning and artistic expression. The artwork drew our parents and alumnae together for educational and celebratory events, reinforced the strength in our community, and reconnected us to the moon and the world we share.
We are most grateful for the generosity of our patron of the arts donor, and for the vision of our Main Event Co-Chairs and Harpeth Hall Parents Association volunteers who provided this extraordinary week-long experience for everyone on our campus — students, faculty, parents, alumnae, and visitors.
THE MOON ARRIVES AT HARPETH HALL AHEAD OF AN UNLIKELY SPRING
Long an inspiration for artists, scientists, and explorers alike, the Moon enchanted Harpeth Hall girls when it landed in the Leigh Horton Garden for a week of academic exploration and cultural celebration in early March. Museum of the Moon, the internationally-acclaimed art installation by UK artist Luke Jerram, graced the Harpeth Hall campus thanks to an unsolicited gift from an anonymous patron of the arts. The gift of this touring exhibition to our school community served as the focal point for the 30th Anniversary of the Harpeth Hall Parents Association’s fundraiser, The Main Event. Measuring seven meters (23-feet) in diameter with each centimeter representing 5 km of the Moon’s surface, the internally-lit, striking sculpture features high-resolution, detailed imagery of the lunar surface. The imagery was
taken by a NASA satellite launched in 2010 that carried the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. Created by Jerram in 2016, Museum of the Moon has been exhibited around the world, attracting more than a million visitors across Europe, Asia, and Australia. “The Moon has always inspired humanity, acting as a cultural mirror to society and reflecting the ideas and beliefs of all people around the world,” said the artist. The installation at Harpeth Hall was among the first in the United States and the first in Tennessee. During the week-long “Moon Landing”, Harpeth Hall and the Parents Association hosted a series of student, parent, and community events to complement the installation of Museum of the Moon. The Harpeth Hall faculty incorporated the study of the Moon into curricular and
Photo cutlines
co-curricular activities across all disciplines. The Upper School Social Sciences Department planned a lesson about the Space Race and the Cold War in Advanced Placement U.S. History. In the Middle School, each 5th grade science student chose a planet and, using the school’s Design Den maker space, designed and built an alien to live on that planet. In 7th grade science classes, students incorporated the Moon into their study of electromagnetic waves. Yoga classes, the Middle School orchestra, and art classes found inspiration under the Moon as well. “To be able to marvel at Luke Jerram’s extraordinary work of art up close was a remarkable experience,” said Head of School Jess Hill. “We are immensely grateful to our generous donor, to HHPA President Mary Helfrich, to our Main Event Co-Chairs Jackie Daniel and Louise Kohler, and to our faculty who helped our girls explore the many facets of the Moon through science, literature, and the arts.”
We always see the same side of the Moon because the Earth is “tidally locked” with the Moon. One day on the Moon equals one month on Earth.
Moon Phases Outer Circle = view from the Earth Inner Circle = view from an extra-terrestrial
On March 5th, the school hosted a community lecture entitled “Moon Waltz: Unveiling Earth’s Dance Partner” presented by Harpeth Hall parent, Dr. Susan G. Stewart, an Astronomer with the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. and Adjoint Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. She addressed the Moon-Earth System, Moon Exploration, and other interesting moons in the Solar System. The evening opened in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre with the debut of a newly commissioned arrangement of “Ballade to the Moon” by Daniel Elder sung by the Harpeth Hall Chamber Choir. This commissioned arrangement was made possible by a grant from the Hays Foundation in support of Harpeth Hall’s performing arts program. As Harpeth Hall parent and Professor of Cello at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music Felix Wang expressed following the event, “I particularly appreciated that not only was there a musical performance before the lecture, but that this beautiful piece was a work commissioned by Harpeth Hall for this event. It was wonderful to see the emphasis of interdisciplinary education at play, and I really appreciated the inclusion and emphasis on the arts.” The Museum of the Moon moved indoors to the Athletic and Wellness Center for the week’s culminating event: “Moon Dance” on Saturday, March 7th. With entertainment by Harpeth Hall parent and celebrated musician John Hermann and the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, parents, patrons, corporate sponsors, and other guests enjoyed a unique and ethereal evening in the moonlight. After months of intense planning, the extraordinarily talented Main Event Co-Chairs and their devoted volunteers could enjoy their success in bringing our community together in celebration of art, all girls education, and philanthropy. The proceeds of The Main Event will enable the Harpeth Hall Parents Association to make a gift to the school in support of innovation in and out of the classroom. The week after Museum of the Moon was safely stowed for shipment to its next location, the need to protect our community from the COVID-19 pandemic became urgent. On March 13th, Jess Hill announced that Harpeth Hall’s campus would remain closed following Spring Break, and distance learning would begin. With that swift change to our lives, we treasure the time we spent enjoying Museum of the Moon together as one community even more.
My favorite part of having the Museum of the Moon on campus was seeing the reactions of students when they saw the Moon for the first time. I loved witnessing their faces light up with excitement. It made the whole
school happier.
— Ruthie Gaw ’24
One of my favorite parts of having the Museum of the Moon on campus is that our teachers reinforced it in our learning! For example, in math we calculated how far we would be able to jump on the moon and other planets. In English we wrote legends/ stories about the dark side of the moon. These activities were fun and mixed up the normal agenda in classes!
— Reed Logan ’27
I loved incorporating it into our classes. For example, we sketched it in art, and in French, we learned new vocabulary relating to the moon.
— Kiki Christopher ’25
I learned that 1 cm on the art installation was equivalent to 5 km on the actual moon. It was such a breathtaking experience and it was so cool to think that the Moon had been all over the world. Overall, it was out of the world!
— Josey Beavers ’24
I liked doing the math project and playing orchestra by it!
— Annabel Farringer ’27
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
I liked just looking outside and seeing it and being able to tell people who come on campus about it — I felt really lucky to share such a beautiful piece of art with people in our
community!
— Betsy Rogers ’22
I love the art and science connection of the Museum of the Moon. My students enjoyed drawing the full moon up close— they were able to see the details on the lunar surface they otherwise would have to imagine.
— Susie Elder, Visual Arts Teacher
My favorite part about the Moon was how it brought joy to everyone who saw it. It felt like I had truly seen the moon for the first time. Seeing the faces of people who saw it for the first time made me happy. I could see the pure excitement in their eyes. I loved the Moon and was sad to see it go, but I now know it is traveling to good places for happy faces.
It is incredibly beautiful! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to experience it at night this past week. Seeing its glow was amazing!
— Elise Ikejiani ’21
