Winthrop's UFO is an anamorphic projection in the figure of a swine in flight. The illusion manifests best when viewed from the Undeniably Factual Observation spot. Move to one side or the other, and the spell is broken; the object becomes an almost unintelligible assembly of lines.

Winthrop's UFO is a reverberation of an episode along the Muddy River which was reported by John Winthrop (1587–1649), first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in his journal History of New England from 1630–1649. On March 1st 1639 Winthrop writes, "In this year one James Everell, a sober, discreet man, and two others, saw a great light in the night at Muddy River. When it stood still, it flamed up, and was about three yards square; when it ran, it was contracted into the figure of a swine: it ran as swift as an arrow towards Charlton [Charlestown], and so up and down about two or three hours. They were come down in their lighter about a mile, and, when it was over, they found themselves carried quite back against the tide to the place they came from. Divers other credible persons saw the same light, after, about the same place."

This is held to be the first recorded UFO sighting in North America. It was followed in that same year by at least two others near Boston Harbour, also recounted by Winthrop in his journal.

We might question our perceptions: How does the supernatural reverberate through the natural? How do our responses to and interpretations of natural phenomena reverberate with our cultural conditioning? How is the telling of a story, or the journalistic reporting of fact, a reverberation of our bias and worldview?

The 20th annual exhibition of Studios Without Walls presents "Reverberations," a temporary environmental installation featuring the work of 20 Boston sculptors. This ever–changing group of sculptors heralds the arrival of spring with annual exhibitions in Brookline, MA.

The exhibit is hosted by the Brookline Division of Parks and Open Space at the Olmsted–designed Riverway Park, which is part of the Emerald Necklace on the banks of the Muddy River.

Supported by a grant by the Vaule Fund for Arts and Culture at the Brookline Community Foundation, Brookline Arts Center, fiscal sponsor.

Affiliations with ARTSBrookline, MASSCreative, Brookline Open Studios, Artweek Boston.

Size and Materials:
6x6x8 feet.
Plywood, branches, wire, twine, Day–Glo paint.

Supported by:
Studios Without Walls
Brookline Parks and Open Space
Brookline Community Foundation
Brookline Arts Center