Swampscott plans stone circle for beach

SWAMPSCOTT – The Clifton Improvement Association is turning its sights toward installing a unique sun circle in Beach Bluff Park at Preston Beach in Swampscott.Similar to Stonehenge, the sun circle is an educational, scientific and artistic project that demonstrates the journey of the earth around the sun and has been designed by Marblehead sculptor and architect Bruce Greenwald who has offered his services at no charge.His wife Karen Horowitz, who uses the name KH Krena professionally, explained the sun circle installation would consist of a ring or henge of columns.”It’s a similar idea to Stonehenge,” she said. “The columns are made of columnar basalt.”She added columnar basalt is a spectacular geometrical formation that is formed during the cooling of a thick lava flow. Horowitz explained as the lava shrinks, it cools and the resulting pressure cracks the rock into shapes that offer the greatest stress relief with the fewest cracks resulting in three to eight-sided columns.Horowitz said each column that would be used in the sun circle weighs approximately six tons and is 12 feet high.”Five feet will go underground,” she said. “Each column will rise seven feet above the ground.”She added the rough stone monoliths are naturally formed columnar basalt that have been quarried from the Columbia River Basin in Moses Lake, Wash.”Eight of the stones will include a simple contoured cut that will express an aspect of capturing the sun along its journey,” she said. “The stone pairs at the equinox locations also evoke a conversation between two persons as they view the solar path. At the center of the installation will be a circular stone dais from which the viewer can experience the solar path. This platform will be etched with an explanatory diagram.”Horowitz said the stones are expected to arrive within the next month and she hopes installation could begin almost immediately.”When you stand in the center of the sun circle, the stone sentinels surrounding you indicate the position of the sun on the horizon, where it rises and sets through the year,” she said. “At two points on the circle, pairs of stone pillars delineate the sunrise and sunset locations on the spring and autumnal equinox dates. At key moments on these two days, the sun’s rays will pass between the arcs in the stones, creating a spectacular sunburst. At four other points on the circle, single stone pillars indicate the locations of the sunrise and sunset on the solstice dates in winter and summer. Stone pillars mark the north and south axis of the circle. The effect will be especially dramatic during equinox and solstice events.”Horowitz said the stones cost approximately $60,000 and would cost an additional $20,000 to install, so a silent auction is being held to help defray expenses.Horowitz has organized an online silent auction, which runs through July 6.”The community has been wonderful,” she said. “We have more than 100 items that are worth approximately $25,000 total. I’m really humbled and thrilled by the response.”To check out the auction items and place a bid, go to www.ciabeachbluff.org and click on the silent auction link.Those who would like to make a tax deductible donation can send a check made payable to Clifton Neighborhood Association to Lynn Nadeau, 10 Surf St., Marblehead, MA 01945.