WEEK 9 - Space + Art

Week 9 - Space + Art

Space is a topic that encapsulates various objects, concepts, sciences, and overall research. Learning about space and its connection to art helped deeper understand the various space research and activities that can be conducted. We can begin to notice the emergence of space exploration through the “Space Race” between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1955 (Vesna). This historical race for spaceflight ultimately brought the idea of science and the cosmos to individuals all over the world. The impact this had on art and space was amazing. Professor Vesna also mentions that education changed with students being taught more science and math courses. These events of launching satellites, rockets, and other spacecrafts help bring space and art to mass culture while also invoking further innovative ideas/research. 

Garner, Rob. “Solarium.” NASA, NASA, 17 Dec. 2015, https://www.nasa.gov/solarium.

The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group does well of demonstrating how art and space can be interconnected and how it can be used to spread knowledge. To take a step back, it was great to read, from one of the astronomers of the project, that artists actually helped make the space age possible through the spread of their imagination of space and dreams of space activities (“The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group”). The project promotes artists such as B.E. Johnson who aim to inspire individuals about space through paintings, photography, animation, and more (“The Space Art of B.E. Johnson”). 

Example of space art: "Saturn as seen from Mimas" - Bonestell, Chesley. 1943, https://www.bonestell.org/Image-Gallery.aspx.  

The way space art can invoke new research and ideas is especially interesting. Bill Hartmann, scientist and space artist, describes how his decision to paint a comet actually made him realize that there was little to no study on the “comet’s possible geology” (Pendle). This then led to a new line of inquiry and research ideas which connected two fields, space and geology, together as well. Other interesting art pieces that help conceptualize space, technology, and art are Artist Richard Clar’s piece, “Space Flight Dolphin” and Joe Davis’s, “Ruby Falls”. In “Space Flight Dolphin”, a dolphin shaped sculpture/satellite would be deployed in low-Earth orbit to space and would transmit signals, dolphin noises, in hopes of being detected by extraterrestrial intelligence (“SPACE FLIGHT DOLPHIN: An Art-and-Technology Payload for the Space Shuttle”). Another interesting piece was “Ruby Falls” which was supposed to be launched with a shuttle and was meant to create artificial auroras in space that would be visible from the Earth and further studied in regards to shuttle environment (Malina).

"Journey to Space" at the California Science Center https://www.thefamilysavvy.com/2015/11/la-blasts-off-journey-to-space-at-the-california-science-center/.

These examples of space art only demonstrate how vast the arena is for further exploration and study. When thinking of this week’s topic, I remembered an experience I had as a child when visiting the California Science Center. Although not explicitly labeled as art, there was an interactive structure that replicated the feeling of launching and traveling in a space shuttle. Unknowingly, this piece had inevitably exposed me to space exploration at a young age, similarly to how all these space art pieces expose individuals to the cosmos.

Sources:

“The Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group.” Leonardo Space Art Project Visioneers, https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.  

Malina, Roger F. “In Defense of Space Art: The Role of the Artist in Space Exploration.” International Astronomical Union Colloquium, vol. 112, 1991, pp. 145–152., https://doi.org/10.1017/s0252921100003894.  

Pendle, George. “The Slow, Tragic Death of Space Art.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 11 Apr. 2017, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/space-art-propelled-scientific-exploration-of-the-cosmosbut-its-star-is-fading-fast.  

“The Space Art of B.E.Johnson.” Space Art, Astronomical Art, Advanced Concept, 3D Animation, Film , https://imperialearth.com/.

“SPACE FLIGHT DOLPHIN: An Art-and-Technology Payload for the Space Shuttle.” Space Art Projects at Art Technologies, 2005, http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/projects/space-dolphin.html.  

Vesna, Victoria, director. Space Exploration + Art, UC Online, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLZMDpoP-u0&ab_channel=UCOnline. Accessed 2022.

Images/Videos:

Bonestell, Chesley. “Bonestell - Image Gallery.” Chesley Bonestell, 1943, https://www.bonestell.org/Image-Gallery.aspx.  

Garner, Rob. “Solarium.” NASA, NASA, 17 Dec. 2015, https://www.nasa.gov/solarium.  

“La Blasts off: Journey to Space at the California Science Center.” The Family Savvy, 6 Nov. 2015, https://www.thefamilysavvy.com/2015/11/la-blasts-off-journey-to-space-at-the-california-science-center/.