Week 9 Blog: Space + Art



Andy Warhol, Moonwalk I, 1987. 
Image Source: dailyartmagazine.com

This week's, as well as the last topic of the class, is the intersection between space and arts. After searching up online, I was surprised to have discovered that there's a well-established field of art called space art, which mainly involves the creation of art using space as the context. It is also an exciting sphere for me because of the wide range of art genres and categories that are incorporated in the process of space art creation, such as impressionism and realism, encompassing the limitless possibilities and potential of space art production. 

One meaningful application of space art  in the real world is its healing and therapeutical functionalities in pediatric treatments and community engagements. On one hand, the early exposure of art creation enhanced by spatial knowledge and phenomenons helps with the discovering and nurturing of the artistic talents in children, and therefore fuels the later artistic development as a whole. On the other hand, since the events and sessions are often organized in a group setting within a community, the holding of such activities is a great way of raising the awareness of unity and collaboration for not only children, but also other members of the community, making it a versatile and multi-functional approach.


Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889. 
Image Source: christiesrealestate.com

During my research of the topic, I also found an interesting exhibition -- NASA Art Program, which was founded by James Webb and held in 1962 in the National Air and Space Museum. Modeled after the Air Force Art Program, the purpose of the NASA Art Program was to foster the creation of art works that capture the essence and beauty of space and record them in a less ephemeral way than those did by the mass medias. In this case, the artists were granted unrestricted access to all kinds of facilities and machineries used in NASA as the source of inspiration of their creations. It also reminds me of the inspiring talk I attended on May 25th: COLOR LIGHT MOTION, during which the panelists discussed how the political context of a certain historical period affects the themes and styles of art works created during that era.

Keith Duncan, A New Frontier, 2001. 
Image Source: kennedyspacecenter.com

Reference List:

1. “Space Art.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 May 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_art.

2. “Space Art Healing: Space for Art Foundation.” SpaceForArt, www.spaceforartfoundation.org/. Accessed 26 May 2024. 

3. Bryll, Marta Wiktoria. “Eyewitness to Space: The NASA Art Program.” DailyArt Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024, www.dailyartmagazine.com/nasa-art-program/.

4. “NASA Art Program.” Homepage, 5 Aug. 2021, airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/nasa-art-program.

5. “NASA Art Program.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 May 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Art_Program.

6. “Andy Warhol: Moonwalk (Feldman & Schellmann II.405): Prints & Multiples: 2020.” Sotheby’s, www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/prints-multiples-online-2/andy-warhol-moonwalk-feldman-schellmann-ii-405. Accessed 26 May 2024.

7. Alaina. “How on Earth Are NASA Science and Art Related?” How on Earth Are NASA Science and Art Related?, www.kennedyspacecenter.com/blog/how-on-earth-are-nasa-science-and-art-related. Accessed 26 May 2024.



Comments

  1. Janeth Chavez Sosa May 27, 2024 at 5:56 PM

    Hi Tiffany!

    What an amazing exploration of space art! The blend of various art genres with the vast context of space truly opens up limitless possibilities. It's impressive how space art spans styles like impressionism and realism, offering unique perspectives on the universe. The NASA Art Program is a groundbreaking initiative, giving artists access to NASA facilities to capture the beauty of space. This not only preserves space's essence but also reflects the historical and political contexts of its time. Your insights beautifully illustrate how space art bridges science and creativity, offering both aesthetic and practical benefits. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ava CharlesJune 9, 2024 at 4:54 PM

    Hi Tiffany! I really love how in your blog you focused not just on the existence of space art, but also on the application of it in society. I think it is so cool how space art can be used in pediatric instances both to teach children about space itself, but to also encourage them to be creative! This is such a perfect example of how well art and science truly work together in education. Great job! Thank you for your insightful analysis.

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