Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a small island in a river that has firepits arranged in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a small island in a river that has firepits arranged in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a small firepit

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Island in Ship Creek, Anchorage, Alaska
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions: 2 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. x 18 ft. (76 x 365 x 548 cm)
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire II (1986)
Anchorage Delaney Memorial Park for Sky Art Alaska, Alaska Visual Art Center
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

firepits installed in the ground in the shape of the Big Dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire II (1986)
Anchorage Delaney Memorial Park for Sky Art Alaska, Alaska Visual Art Center
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire II (1986)
Anchorage Delaney Memorial Park for Sky Art Alaska, Alaska Visual Art Center
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

firepits installed in the ground in the shape of the Big Dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire II (1986)
Anchorage Delaney Memorial Park for Sky Art Alaska, Alaska Visual Art Center
Steel, earth, fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm)

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a courtyard with several small firepits in the ground spaced out in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a courtyard with several small firepits in the ground spaced out in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a courtyard with several small firepits in the ground spaced out in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a courtyard with several small firepits in the ground spaced out in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

a courtyard with several small firepits in the ground spaced out in the shape of the big dipper

Nancy Holt, Starfire (1986)
Installation view: Ecstatic Land, Ballroom Marfa, TX, 2022
Steel, earth, and fire
Overall dimensions variable
Fire pit diameters: two 14 in. (35.6 cm), five 12 in. (30.5 cm), one 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Fire pit depth: 12 in. (30.5 cm) 
Photograph: Heather Rasmussen

© Holt/Smithson Foundation / Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York

Writings by Holt

Starfire

By Nancy Holt
1986

Far away suns brought down to Earth in flames. At the stroke of light fires fly up from below ground, brightening the twilight in an all-consuming blaze. Heat waves quiver, sparks soar, and long streaky flames stab the atmosphere. After a while the fiery combustions begin to diminish, slowly burning down to a few flickers, and finally extinguish into darkness, leaving black holes in the bare land awaiting illumination.

How to cite

Untitled statement about Starfire in Sky Art Alaska, exhibition catalogue, unpaginated (Anchorage: Visual Arts Center of Alaska in cooperation with the Center for Advanced Visual Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986)