Week 9: Space + Art

Space is scary – it’s massive, inaccessible, and difficult to understand, unless you’re an astronaut. Because only a limited number of people have actually been to space, a majority of people don’t have a full understanding of space. And it’s no shame to say that I am one of those people.

Most of what I know about space comes from science fiction novels and television. However, the history and science of space is so rich, and learning about that this past week has helped me appreciate the trailblazers who risked their lives to pave the way for space learning (UC Online, 2013). Since the creation of the Copernicus Model of the sun-centered solar system that challenged peoples’ perception of the universe, there has been a growth in understanding and interest in space that has blossomed to encompass more than just the technicalities of space travel (“The Copernican Model”). Naturally, this interest has turned into ways that people visualize and represent space to those who have little understanding of it.

Some space art initiatives have included the Cosmic Dancer, a “space art intervention” created by Arthur Woods (“Cosmic Dancer”). This project aimed to explore the properties of 3D printed objects in space, which could potentially lead to a new medium of art in space. Another artist who illustrated environments in space is Chelsey Bonestell. He popularized space travel and helped visualize space in colorful paintings, and contributed to science fiction with his imagination and interest in space (“Chelsey Bonestell”). Other projects make use of what already exists in space, including Richard Clar’s orbital debris constellation sculpture (Art Technologies, “Collision II”). Clar uses tracking devices to map debris and creates sculptures based on the debris from meteorites.

With all these initiatives that shed light to space, it is clear why science fiction and interest in space has grown exponentially in the past century. Thinking of space as an art form has allowed many people to understand space better, which leads many people to consider different ways to visualize and represent space.

Sources:

Bonestell, Chelsey. “Bonestell - Home.” Chesley Bonestell, 2018, www.bonestell.org/.

“COLLISION II: An Orbital Debris Constellation Sculpture.” Space Art Projects at Art Technologies, a Collaboration between Space Technology and the Arts, www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/projects/collisonII.html.

Molina, Brett. “Mysterious Radio Signal from Space? Astronomers Aren't Sure of Origins.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 7 Aug. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/08/06/mystery-radio-signal-space-detected-astronomers-say/912996002/.

Online, UC, director. 8 Space pt1 1280x720. YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8.

“The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System .” The Copernican Model: A Sun-Centered Solar System, www.pas.rochester.edu/~blackman/ast104/copernican9.html.

“The Copernican Revolution.” Copernicus, astro.hopkinsschools.org/course_documents/history/copernicus_to_galileo/copernicus.htm.

Woods, Arthur. “Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods.” The Cosmic Dancer Sculpture - a Spaceart Intervention on the Mir Space Station by Arthur Woods, 2019, www.cosmicdancer.com/.