Cosmic Honu

Photo: Jon Lomberg created Cosmic Honu to benefit the W. M. Keck Observatory in the Hawaii Island public art exhibit called “It’s a Honu World.” On the turtle’s back is a representation of the entire universe. Courtesy of WMKO.

It started in Zurich, Switzerland in 1998. Large fiberglass cows were painted into masterpieces by local artists and infused the landscape with color and creativity. Quickly spreading to America, the public art idea evolved and flourished cows in Chicago, salmon in Seattle, pigs in Petaluma, hearts in San Francisco, and geckos in Honolulu, the whimsical collections were later auctioned off to benefit local charities. Anyone living on Hawai’i Island knows that this potent phenomenon arrived in full living color in March, 2008, as It’s a Honu World. Organized by Karen and Errol Kaufman, of Hilo, the program garnered 35 Big Island artists to decorate large sea turtle forms in support of local organizations including the W. M. Keck Observatory. The painted turtles are on display across the island through September, 2008.

Photo: At home in his Galaxy Garden, Jon Lomberg stands in front of a fountain symbolizing the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Courtesy of Jon Lomberg.

Jon Lomberg, one of the world’s leading artists inspired by science, created Cosmic Honu for Keck. Lomberg is a painter who has lived with his family in Honaunau since 1987. Also an Emmy Award winning art director for “Cosmos,” he was deeply involved in Carl Sagan’s work for over 25 years, a journey that culminated with designing the astronomical innovation for the film, Contact.