EXHIBITION: The Observable Universe: Visualizing the Cosmos in Art
ON VIEW: September 29, 2019 – February 16, 2020 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Including work from Lita Albuquerque, Lee Bontecou, Vija Celmins, Russell Crotty, Joan Fontcuberta, Lia Halloran, Michael Light, Ann McCoy, Jenny Okun, Michelle Stuart, Fred Tomaselli, James Turrell, Penelope Umbrico, and Jacqueline Woods.
From the indelible Earthrise photograph taken by astronauts during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968 to the recent groundbreaking images of a black hole, the exploration and imaging of space have captivated the collective imagination and inspired a variety of artistic practices. In this installation: Michael Light explores the visual impact of NASA’s early lunar images in his Full Moon series; Lia Halloran uses the mechanisms of early astrophotography to create large-scale installations of cyanotypes and cliché-verre prints of hand-painted star clusters, galaxies, and planets; Fred Tomaselli creates what he calls "celestial portraits" based on his sitters’ astrological signs and histories of drug use; Ann McCoy unites deep-sea imagery with that of deep space, combining coral reefs with planetary bodies in her Untitled lithograph. Each of these approaches has contributed to an evolving visual language through which to conceive of our relationship to the unfathomable vastness of the infinite. From early fascinations with space travel to philosophical questions of our place within the larger universe, the artwork featured in this exhibition reflects an enduring captivation with outer space and the mesmerizing imagery that the limitless cosmos inspires.
Learn more about THE OBSERVABLE UNIVERSE: VISUALIZING THE COSMOS IN ART here.