WEEK 9: SPACE + ART

       This week’s topic was of particular interest to me because I never thought about connecting art and space. Much like other scientific and artistic collaborations, the collaboration between these two disciplines appears to be a symbiotic relationship (mutually beneficial relationship).   

(Sagan)

       Art enables the creation of awareness of space. Professor Vesna mentions that one of the first examples of an artist that brought awareness to space exploration is Carl Sagan with his illustration of the Pale Blue Dot. Since then many other artists have helped create awareness of space exploration. For example, Richelle Gribble spoke about how satellite images together with artistic collaboration enabled the visualization of the earth from above as seen from space. Without this artistic collaboration, the general population would not be able to have a visual representation of what our planet looks like. Additionally, this image is particularly powerful because the artwork attempts to convey how interconnected the world is with its brilliant knitwork.  

 

(Gribble)

      Another instance of the importance of art for space exploration is the fact that “NASA employee and artist James Dean was chosen to lead the program, working with curators and artists to commemorate historic moments” (Alaina et al.). If it weren’t for this artist's input this hugely significant moment would have never reached the masses.   

      Another key benefit of “space art” is that it helps “promote space travel” (International Association of Astronomical Artists). Space travel is extremely important in discovering more about the universe. Art helps demystify space travel and encourages/ inspires people to take part in it.  

        Space exploration or study has also helped create more complex and visually engaging artworks. For example, “makers and creators continue working with NASA scientists and engineers to create visually engaging concept art and animations” (Almeida). If not for these collaborations, you will not see complex visual renditions as shown below.  

 (Almeida) 

Overall art and space working together help advance both fields and open new doors and avenues of possibilities. 

WORKS CITED

Vesna , Victoria, director. 8 Space Intro 1280x720. 8 Space Intro 1280x720, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPAmpBiVHY&t=1s. 

 

Gribble, Richelle. “Space + Art .” 24 May 2021. 

Alaina, et al. How on Earth Are NASA Science and Art Related?, 28 Aug. 2019, www.kennedyspacecenter.com/blog/how-on-earth-are-nasa-science-and-art-related.  

International Association of Astronomical Artists. “What Is Space Art?” International Association of Astronomical Artists, 2021, iaaa.org/what-is-space-art/. 

Almeida, Andres. “Retrofuturistic NASA Space Art.” NASA, NASA, 30 Dec. 2020, www.nasa.gov/image-feature/retrofuturistic-nasa-space-art.  

“Pale Blue Dot 2020.” Performance by Carl Sagan, YouTube, YouTube, 13 Feb. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDjiSc_J3Ac.  

Gribble, Richelle. Space + Art Lecture, 24 May 2021. 

 Almeida, Andres. “Retrofuturistic NASA Space Art.” How on Earth Are NASA Science and Art Related?, 28 Aug. 2019, www.nasa.gov/image-feature/retrofuturistic-nasa-space-art.