Standing in front of Granby Junior–Senior High School, Astralis greets students and visitors with a form that feels both grounded and celestial. Crafted from an old propane tank, this large-scale steel sculpture consists of two slightly concave intersecting circles—an intentional reference to eclipses, or the fleeting moment when light and shadow align in perfect balance.
From Reclaimed Material to Celestial Form
The name Astralis comes from the Latin word for “of the stars,” reflecting the sculpture’s inspiration in astronomy and cycles of light. Like many Hercworx pieces, it was created entirely from reclaimed metal, re-imagining industrial material into something symbolic and enduring.
The tank’s thick steel was cut, shaped, and welded by hand, without an internal frame. Each surface curve was carefully balanced so the circles meet in delicate intersection—suggesting both tension and harmony. The raw finish was left unpainted, allowing natural weathering to transform the surface over time, reminding viewers that change and decay can also be forms of beauty.
A Gift of Reflection for the Community
Installed in 2025 through the support of the Granby Cultural Council, Astralis serves as a daily reminder of connection—between art and science, earth and sky, students and community. Its placement at the high school entrance was chosen to spark curiosity and reflection, inviting young people to consider creativity not as separate from learning, but as part of it.
Public art has a unique ability to turn everyday spaces into places of meaning. For Granby, Astralis offers a landmark that belongs equally to the town and to time itself—rooted in the local landscape but open to the universe above it.
Visit Astralis
You can view Astralis on the front lawn of Granby Junior–Senior High School on Route 202 in Granby, Massachusetts. Visitors are welcome to stop by, reflect on the sculpture’s quiet geometry, and share their photos on social media—tag @hercworx when you do.
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