Week 9: Space + Art

The world has always been so fascinated and competitive when it comes to the topic of space travel; however, what most people don't realize is how much this has impacted the world of art. I noticed in the articles we read this week that it is very interesting how space discoveries and art grew hand in hand throughout history. Since space was something that no one knew anything about, it was so important to have artists that could show the world what it looked like in an accurate way. These new discoveries in space inspired so many artists, and their art sparked an interest in so many people because everyone wanted to know what space was like. For example, Chesley Bonestell popularized manned space travel through his beautiful paintings and artwork for magazines, films and books. Another is Richard Clar, who "transform[s] state-of-the-art technology and highly-engineered materials into evocative contemporary art" (Website of Richard Clar and Art Technologies, a collaboration between Space Technology and the Arts). He uses scientific resources and technology to create works of art that make statements about global and environmental issues. The "Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity" exhibit used the weightlessness and freedom of space as its core inspiration. It emphasizes the forces of gravity as something that can't be escaped, but anti-gravity as something to aspire for. Overall, space and art have influenced each other in many ways over the years and have produced many meaningful works that make statements about the universe that we live in.
 
Work by Richard Clar
From http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/Gallery/04.html

Dancing on the Ceiling exhibit
http://zerogravity.empac.rpi.edu

Chesley Bonestell 
http://zerogravity.empac.rpi.edu



Resources:

"Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA." BaPSF. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017. <http://plasma.physics.ucla.edu/index.html>.

"Bonestell - Home." Bonestell - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017. <http://www.bonestell.org/>.

"Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA." Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017. <http://zerogravity.empac.rpi.edu/>.

"NASA." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 02 June 2017. <https://www.nasa.gov/>.

Website of Richard Clar and Art Technologies, a collaboration between Space Technology and the Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017. <http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/index-2005.html>.


Comments

  1. UnknownJune 7, 2017 at 10:10 PM

    I, too, love the connection that has established between art and space. Artists were able to use their pieces to educate and draw interest of the public while space gave the artists new inspirations to draw from. I also love the pieces that you gave as examples; they presented an intellectual feel within the artwork.

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