When the detection of gravitational waves was announced earlier this month, the space community rejoiced. They cried out, “Einstein was right!” and “This changes everything we know about space.”

For me, this announcement had the resonance of a hockey score between two teams I didn’t know existed.

Space isn’t my thing. It doesn’t excite me. I have no interest in gravitational waves or any other cosmic waves, regardless of their existence or potential existence. For me, space is just something we keep looking at that keeps getting bigger.

We’re finding out more about space, which makes us re-examine that which we already know. It’s a loop of perpetual newness and endless costs. All that said, the current Arts Underground show is something I can appreciate and support, more because of the quality art and less because of the theme.

The show, called Event Horizon, is a collection of a few recent shows from the Mobius Collective North, as well as an interactive installation, paintings, photographs, and more. Mobius Collective North is a group of artists from a variety of backgrounds and interests such as music, film, visual art, and science. The work provides viewers with a chance to examine their role in this world and to consider the relationship between humankind and nature.

One installation, and the Mobius Collection’s first project, is “Stardust Museum.” Launched in 2014 at the Ramshackle Theatre, it involves a live shadow projection, old and new poetry, antique glass, and a live soundscape. Barb Hinton and Jocylyn McDowell provide the visual projections and text while Nate Wood is responsible for all aspects of sound. Old and new are combined in this installation to force a re-examination of our space within nature. Life is seen as a transition more than a linear process.

Wish I Might is described as an interactive celestial story. Viewers are invited to write their own inscriptions, which will eventually be shared online. Some of the inscriptions will be placed on lanterns, which will be part of a community sendoff, in which the lanterns will be sent skyward. The lanterns are a far cry from the range of satellites and other intergalactic space junk currently floating around the atmosphere, but having been shared by a community, their meaning will not be lost.

Ultimately, one doesn’t have to love space to enjoy this exhibit. Whether you were glued to a live feed during the gravitational waves announcement or not, Event Horizon continues Arts Underground’s recent string of shows that are working to introduce newcomers to the wealth of Yukon talent while at the same time questioning and scrutinizing their space in this world.

Event Horizon is showing until Feb. 27 at Arts Underground, which is located at Suite 15, 305 Main Street in Whitehorse.

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