shimmer

Nearby, Yang Bao’s “Hyperspace,” a gold, mirrored pyramid accompanied by gleaming shards, nestled in a former lavender field, shimmers amid thyme, gingko, California poppies and native grasses, accompanied by haunting, and constantly mutating, music.

The same shimmering effect that makes distant horizons appear wavy on a hot day causes starlight to flicker and distort as it travels through the air.

From its display case in the museum’s “Stories from Mesoamerica” hall, the iridescent plumage shimmers like a rainbow encased in glass, a tropical interloper to these northern climes.

On the connected monitor, flakes shimmer and shift between hues of red, green, and gold as they move across the surface.

A shimmering Christmas cake for a holiday party.