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Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist To Walk On Another World

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Written by rubin   
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 03:43

In order to accurately depict Apollo scenes, events and images in his paintings, artist Alan Bean meticulously constructs physical scenes using models of astronauts, the lunar module, the moon rover and Surveyor.

WASHINGTON, DC.- Millions of people across the globe watched as two men set foot on another world for the first time July 20, 1969. The National Air and Space Museum is commemorating this defining moment in space exploration with several 40th anniversary-related programs including astronaut appearances, book signings, the opening of an art exhibit and gallery talks by the museum’s Space History curators. All events are free and take place in the National Mall building; they are listed in chronological order.

Forty years ago, the Moon received its first human visitors. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle landed, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface. To celebrate this 40th anniversary, this exhibition presents a view of the Apollo journeys through the eyes of the first artist to visit another world.

Alan Bean became the fourth man to walk on the Moon during Apollo 12 in 1969. After 18 years as an astronaut, he resigned from NASA in 1981 to dedicate his life to the art of painting his memories of Apollo.

Employing an impressionistic style, Bean captures the spirit of Apollo with lunar landscapes, portraits of fellow moonwalkers, and views of Earth from space. His works offer glimpses of a world on which only he and 11 others have walked.

Displaying both art and artifacts, this exhibition weaves the technology of one of humankind’s greatest achievements with an artist’s firsthand account of a new frontier.

The National Air and Space Museum will premiere Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist On Another World at the Museum on the National Mall July 16, 2009 through January 13, 2010 in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of the first Apollo Moon landings. Visit : http://www.nasm.si.edu/

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