Artist Alan Sonfist is creating “Celestial Meadow,” a site-specific art installation in the Parrish Art Museum’s front Meadow in Water Mill. This two-year project will feature plantings inspired by astral constellations visible above the museum. The pattern and colors of the native flora to be planted will mirror the pattern and colors of the stars—ranging from warm blues to vibrant yellows and reds.
To launch this Land Art Forward installation, the growth of an invasive non-native species, mugwort, must first be suppressed. Mugwort, an aggressively invasive species introduced by Europeans during America’s colonial period, outcompetes indigenous plants. An eco-friendly tarp will cover the field and eliminate the invasive species.
One year later, holes will be cut into the tarp, and seeds of native wildflowers will be planted in a pattern reflecting the star constellation above the museum grounds. Over time, the native flora will grow through the tarp and fully bloom by the summer of 2026, blending environmental restoration with celestial design. Ultimately, Alan Sonfist’s work, “Celestial Meadow,” will be part of a larger exhibition on ecology at the Parrish in 2026.