Time Will Tell
Location: Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, WI
Artist: Ashley Zelinskie
Client: Yerkes Observatory & University of Chicago
Collection: Permanent installation at Yerkes Observatory
Material: Marble, Granite, Quartzite, Bronze
Fabrication & Installation: Quarra Stone
Date Completed: 2023
Set within the historic grounds of the Yerkes Observatory, Time Will Tell is a sculptural stone installation that merges art, science, and craftsmanship. Created by artist Ashley Zelinskie, the work brings Einstein’s field equations into tangible form—honoring his 1921 visit to the observatory—through an intricate arrangement of carved stone and cast bronze. Representing a star, planet, moon, and black hole, each form bends the surrounding grid to illustrate the warping of space and time.
Quarra Stone was proud to fabricate and install this extraordinary piece, contributing our expertise from early digital modeling to final on-site placement. The project demanded both artistic sensitivity and technical mastery, balancing the artist’s vision with the precision required to execute such complex geometry.
A Material Language of Space and Time
The installation’s elements span a range of materials—marble, quartzite, granite, and bronze—each chosen for its distinct visual and structural qualities. The marble grid, warped and folded to reflect gravitational influence, is engraved with Einstein’s field equations, grounding the work in both scientific and symbolic meaning.
Our team employed a hybrid fabrication approach: advanced digital modeling and CNC milling provided the accuracy to achieve tight tolerances, while meticulous hand-finishing refined every surface and curve. Mapping and fitting the marble panels required careful sequencing to ensure seamless joints and a continuous spatial flow, critical to the piece’s immersive effect.
Precision, Collaboration, and Vision
The complexity of Time Will Tell required close collaboration across disciplines. From translating the artist’s 3D models into fabrication-ready plans to coordinating the integration of bronze and stone, every stage was approached with rigorous attention to detail. Our engineers worked alongside the design team to confirm fit and tolerances before fabrication began, preventing even minor deviations from disrupting the intended geometry.
On-site, our installation crew handled each component precisely, ensuring the sculptural elements aligned perfectly to capture the intended optical and spatial distortions. The result is a flawless execution of a deeply conceptual work that invites viewers to walk among its forms and consider the invisible forces that shape the universe.
Science Made Tangible
In Time Will Tell, the equations that once existed only on a chalkboard now live in stone and bronze, permanently inscribed into the landscape of Yerkes Observatory. The work is a testament to the power of design and craft to make the abstract visible, merging scientific thought with artistic expression.
Quarra Stone’s role was to make the complex achievable from concept to installation, turning gravitational theory into a permanent, tactile experience. Today, Time Will Tell invites visitors to pause, explore, and reflect on the vast mysteries of time, gravity, and the unknown.
