Mount Wilson Observatory “Arts@the Observatory” feat. James Griffith: “Small Paintings of Infinity”
Mount Wilson Observatory presents a new installation in its “Arts@the Observatory” series featuring an exhibit by James Griffith: “Small Paintings of Infinity.” A free public opening reception with the artist will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2025, from 2:00–5:00pm. Curated by artist Stephen Nowlin, the exhibit will be presented inside the magnificent vaulted dome of MWO’s historic 100-inch telescope and will run every Saturday from July 19 through October 25, 1:00–5:00pm. Admission during the run is $5, with tickets available online or at the door. For more information on the exhibit, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/arts-griffith
In “Small Paintings of Infinity,” James Griffith continues his decades-long practice of using raw tar—collected, with permission, from the La Brea Tar Pits—as his primary medium. In earlier works, like his “Evolution” series, Griffith depicted animals and plants emerging from the primordial wash of thinned tar over titanium white, allowing the images to arise spontaneously from the material. This merging of process and subject created a visual metaphor for evolution itself.
With his ongoing series of celestial paintings featured in “Small Paintings of Infinity,” Griffith expands the symbolism of using such archaic organic remains, evoking the poetic notion that all life and the evolution of the cosmos are intertwined.
VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum.
The Cosmic Cafe, located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.
PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory. A $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends between 10:00am and 5:00pm. During the week, passes are available at locations around Los Angeles. The most convenient location before heading up is at the Shell station in La Canada Flintridge at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway (https://find.shell.com/us/fuel/10007957-4530-angeles-crest-hwy/en_US). Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them: www.fs.usda.gov/r05/passes/adventure-pass
For more information about Visiting Mount Wilson Observatory, please visit: www.mtwilson.edu/visiting
Image Courtesy of Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica.
