Vibrant Horizons

Several months ago, many of you will remember witnessing a rare and breathtaking display of the Aurora Borealis, or the "Northern Lights." Vivid fuchsia and bright green hues emblazoned across the night sky, an awe-inspiring spectacle of swirling solar particles interacting with the Earth's atmosphere. As these lights pulsed above, social media lit up with stunning photos, capturing the collective wonder of those across our region who shared in nature’s incredible display.

Aurora Boreallis near Elkton, Kentucky

“The Northern Lights”

The very next day, as we worked on designs for installations at the Green River Academy and took measurements inside its nearly 200-year-old walls, we made a remarkable, and serendipitous, discovery. Carved into a stone windowsill were the initials of students—perhaps boarders who had lived within these walls more than 150 years ago—and a curious Latin phrase: "Quid Clarius Astris."

This phrase, which translates to "What is Brighter Than the Stars?", immediately sparked intrigue. To explain why Latin was etched into the building, we quickly remembered that in 2016 we uncovered an advertisement for Green River Academy that listed the Academy’s available courses, and sure enough, Latin was among them. At the time, students were given a head start in a learning a language that was primarily used in legal and academic settings during the 19th century, likely preparing them for careers in law or for the pursuit of a classical education. But what made this discovery even more fascinating was that astronomy had also been part of the curriculum. Academy students once studied the constellations, learned of the concept of galaxies, the movement of planets, and the myths of antiquity that gave the night sky illustrious stories.

It is easy to imagine a young student sitting by that very window, gazing at the sky through a telescope, contemplating the vastness of our existence. Perhaps they were waiting for a comet, a planet’s emergence, or the fleeting brilliance of a meteor shower. With a little extra time on their hands, they etched a mantra into stone—a message that would endure long beyond their own years.

The wonderment tied to night sky that inspired this historic carved inscription and the wonderment demonstrated by those viewing the Northern Lights felt like a tangible connection between today and the past.

This idea has now shaped our approach to the Academy’s branding and storytelling. The artistry driving our imagery reflects vignettes of the Academy’s rich history, including a silhouette of a young girl from the past—reminiscent of the students who once studied here—peering through a telescope at the constellations, comet paths, and planetary movements. Behind her, the Academy stands illuminated, a beacon of knowledge and curiosity. A nearby garden gazebo pays homage to abbé Marc-Antoine Laugier’s "Primitive Hut," a philosophical cornerstone of architectural theory, mirroring the classical influences present in the Academy’s design since its founding in 1835. Among this imagery, several easter eggs are placed for those who are well acquainted with the Academy’s history, and our projects.

Quid Clarius Astris

What is Brighter Than The Stars?

This bridge between past and present of shared experiences of celestial wonders, reminds us that history is not confined to black and white photographs or faded documents. The world of the Academy’s students was vibrant, filled with the same brilliant hues we saw in the Northern Lights. To honor that, our content now embraces a vivid color scheme inspired by the night sky—an artistic tribute to both the past and the boundless curiosity that has always driven our ambitions to do and learn more about our world.

Standing beneath the same sky that generations before us once gazed upon, we are reminded that historic places like Green River Academy offer more than just a glimpse into history—they provide a tangible connection that unites us with those who came before. Their questions, their dreams, and their pursuit of knowledge are not so different from our own. And as long as we continue to look up with wonder, that connection will never fade.