Unit 9 - Space & Art

This week, we talked a space and some history of space travel. Similar to nanotech, space travel is another thing we associate with the future, along with flying cars and space colonies. Space is one of the many stepping stones for the advancement of technology, but it also has its impact in the art world as well. As mentioned in lecture, there are many examples of space in media, both in the past and present, there are multiple movies, video games, books and pieces of artwork.  Space is a beautiful thing that due to its and many natural phenomenons that occur. Whether it be the distant stars that illuminate the night sky or Aurora and the Northern lights that may occur. Space is a beautiful sight to behold which explains why it may inspire some artist and pieces of artwork.

Nebula's Crimson heart (Video on website)

Aurora Planet
Painting by Mark A. Garlick

Space really is a vast and it may be impossible for people to fully understand, but that does not mean people will not try. Through scientific investigations and experiments is the usual approach to try and predict or figure out what may occur out there in space but that is not the only approach. There are many instances in which art would be used to illustrate the many possibilities objects or creatures that may exist somewhere across space. Because of the seeming infinite size of the space, there are many unknowns and unpredictable elements and the art and creativity is able to capture these elements of space.

Wayne Barlowe's Imaginary Creature

What is important about these two distinctions of space is that the collaboration from these two viewpoints can help create new ideas in how people may approach space. In Ron Miller's article, "The Art of Space, Envisioning the Universe," he talks about the collaboration between artists and astronauts to help accurately predict the unknowns of space. Another example of this type of collaboration is the space elevator that was mentioned in lecture. Just as with many other science topics, they could be pushed farther with the help of the artistic world and vice versa.

Cited Sources

Cofield, Calla. "Nebula's Crimson Heart Revealed in Breathtaking Images, Video | Space.com." Space. N.p., 28 May 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.space.com/29455-nebula-crimson-heart-terry-hancock-photos.html>.

Color Artwork." Iaaa. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 June 2015. <http://iaaa.org/pulsar/4-01-2.html#1>.

Miller, Ron. "The Art of Space, Envisioning the Universe | Space.com." Space. N.p., 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.space.com/27726-space-art-illuminates-science-and-imagination.html>.

Carroll, Michael. "Space Art - Illustrating the Universe." Astronomy Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.astronomytoday.com%2Fastronomy%2Fspace-art.html>.

Clark, Stuart. "Nanotechnology Can Launch a New Age of Space Exploration." The Gardian. N.p., 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 31 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fnanotechnology-world%2Fnanotechnology-can-launchttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fnanotechnology-world%2Fnanotechnology-can-launch-a-new-age-of-space-explorationh-a-new-age-of-space-exploration>.