Week 9 Space and Art

Space and Art

In May 2016, NASA announced its release of the NODE, or Network and Operation Demonstration Satellite. This engineering marvel implements nanotechnology for more efficient storage of data and power usage thus providing great use for the next ISS mission. This technology not only demonstrates the potential for greater discoveries of the cosmos, but also serves as a an example of the artwork needed to produce such an engineering marvel. With its visually pleasant cubic shape, more surface area is granted for storage of data in the form of grids.

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry night shows how discoveries of the cosmos offer an  avenue of creative artworks. Recent analysts of great artworks have hypothesized that Van Gogh's swirls in the starry sky originated from scientific observations during the same time as his career, in the 1850s. Anglo-English astronomer, William Parsons discovered M51, the first Whirlpool galaxy and had even created drawings that closely resemble those of Van Gogh's illuminated night sky.

Painter and Animator Don Davis, after his efforts collaborating with many astronomers, constructed a wide range of planetary objects and their surfaces to expose and signify features almost unknown in  many drawings and other artworks. One such example is his construction of Saturn's rings. Using Plexi Glass and specific coloring mechanisms, Davis was able to enumerate the icy and rocky surface of each layer of rings that Saturn Contains.

This month, two street artists Pietro Zucca and EMMEU inspired with the science behind star explosions, or Supernovae, constructed an art show in which an auditorium was devoted to still shots that changed frame by frame of geometric shapes. Each simulated an explosive and vibrant array of particulate matter in the form of a variety of polygons. Without the astronomical discovery of supernovae, such a rare viewing would be non existent. Likewise, without both artists and their creative tools, much of the public would remain ignorant of the power and awe of  supernovae.

Works Cited

Caldwell, Sonja. "Nodes – Network & Operation Demonstration Satellite." NASA. NASA. Web. 29 May 2016.

Davis, Don. "Don Davis Space Art." Don Davis Space Art. Web. 29 May 2016.

"Solo Exhibition SUPERNOVA by EMMEU and Pietro Zucca. Roma, Italy - I Support Street Art." I Support Street Art. Web. 29 May 2016.

Jones, Jonathan. "Starry, Starry Night: A History of Astronomy in Art." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 2014. Web. 29 May 2016.

MailOnline, Jonathan O'Callaghan for. "Is Van Gogh's Starry Night a Painting of GALAXIES? Bright Swirls Are Based on Distant Cosmic Spirals, Claims Expert." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 2015. Web. 29 May 2016.

Wheery, Phil. "Rosse Sketches Photo Index." Rosse Sketches Photo Index. Web. 29 May 2016.