Acquiring The Constellation Orion For The Smithsonian

About this print: “Acquiring the Constellation Orion For The Smithsonian” is a parody on collecting moon rocks. In this image the artist envisions the Shuttle Craft attempting to collect a major constellation to bring back to Earth only to discover it is too large for the storage bay. This piece was the basis for a three-dimensional painting on layered Plexiglas commissioned by NASA. The painting is part of the NASA art collection housed at the Cape Kennedy Visitors’ Center in Florida.

About this series: This delightfully whimsical series was created while the artist was part of the NASA art program to document the Shuttle Craft project. These images were created before the Shuttle Craft actually flew. At the time the series was created, NASA was trying to justify to the tax-paying public the importance of the Shuttle Program and its benefits to mankind. The images are from the artist’s humorous, creative ideas for uses for the Shuttle Craft, as well as situations the Shuttle Craft might experience. The titles of the prints are self-explanatory. Of particular interest in this series is the artist’s extensive use of black for the background, using it to contrast against and enhance his use of color. The prints are in the NASA art collection and have traveled the world as part of NASA sponsored exhibits. They are also in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.