Solar Rotary is a large-scale outdoor sculpture that uses the movement of the sun to activate a public gathering space. Situated within a circular plaza on the campus of the University of South Florida, the work is organized around a tall aluminum structure projecting precisely calibrated circles of light and shadow onto the ground below, the shadow providing shade from the hot Florida sun.

At solar noon on the summer solstice, a circle of sunlight encloses a meteorite embedded at the center of the plaza. On five additional dates throughout the year, corresponding alignments occur around bronze markers commemorating significant events in the histories of Tampa and Florida - outlined in the inventory represented above in the carousel. Developed in collaboration with archaeo-astronomer Jack Robinson, the work depends upon the exact relationship between the sun’s position and its location on Earth, making celestial movement an active component of the sculpture itself.

The surrounding benches—designed by Holt—and cardinal-direction markers encourage orientation within the landscape, while the central meteorite establishes a connection between terrestrial space and the wider cosmos. Through these interconnected elements, Holt creates a work that situates human history within larger astronomical cycles and invites sustained attention to the changing environment.