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Week Nine: Art and Space


Space is a place where all different forms of science come together in connection with art. Whether its mathematics, or robotics, or nanotechnology, it all plays a role in how we deal with and understand space. Space exploration in many ways influenced art and the ways it was seen in popular culture. Music, television, and movies were based on ideas about things in space that were science fiction, but also could become realities. There were shows like Star Trek and the Jetsons. There were movies like E.T., Star Wars, and Contact. And there were musicians like David Bowie who developed the idea that they were The Man Who Fell To Earth. 

There is also the very clear influence in the opposite direction in this field of science with art as well. Just as we see how the science of space can influence art, there is the ways in which art can influence the science and innovation of space. In Professor Vesna’s lecture about Space and Art, she discusses Arthur Clarke and his novel Fountains of Paradise from 1976.  This novel takes place in 22nd century and describes the construction of a space elevator which was the orbital tower which went from the ground to a satellite in geostationary orbit. This science fiction book led to real ideas about something like this happening in real life. Although something like this didn't actually happen, the use of creative spaces led to the idea being thought about more realistically. This would continue in many different ways. 

One very interesting example of a project that develops further the science of space and art is the Makrolab which was actually a place that could be used as a lab but was created as an art piece to make a statement. Creator Marko Peljhan wanted an art piece that would also yield “ knowledge and insight into the evolution of the electronic ‘public sphere’” (Peljhan). 

Another artist who really illustrates and exemplifies the connection between the science of space and art is B.E. Johnson who is an engineer who uses that knowledge to communicate with scientists and engineers the designs he does for his mission art for aerospace corporations. He uses his science knowledge to create art for space corporations. 

There are many ways that art and space science can be related in many different ways. One simple way that it can be is the artistic nature and beauty of space itself. The Nasa website has a gallery of images captured from space and whether it is from high tech satellite images or just views from telescopes, space can be a form of art in itself. 

References
“Coded Utopia.” Continental Drift, 18 May 2009, brianholmes.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/coded-utopia/.
Greicius, Tony. “NASA's Spitzer Captures Stellar Family Portrait.” NASA, NASA, 29 May 2019, www.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-spitzer-captures-stellar-family-portrait.
“Not Your Average Brush Jockey.” About B.E.Johnson, sphericalmagic.com/about/bjbio.html.
Vesna, V. (2019). Art and Space Part I. [Video Lecture]. Retrieved from https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/1067208/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=26086663. 
Vesna, V. (2019). Art and Space Part VI. [Video Lecture]. Retrieved from https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/1067208/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=26086663. 

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