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[ Introduction ][ Mission ][ A
Brief History of Space Art ]
For
the past forty-five years the exploration of space has been synonymous
with humankind's
highest expressions of technology. Today the world has become "wired" and "cyberspace" has
rapidly become the new frontier for all forms of information and
multimedia expression. With their artistic and computer skills,
their knowledge and their unique message,
space artists
have an incredible opportunity to establish space art as the most
exciting new art genre in the 21st century.
 It
is a goal of ars astronautica to
become both a forum and a platform for the space arts. Actively
participating and supporting this
web project will enable all those interested to achieve a larger
visibility throughout
the world.
This, in turn, will heighten general awareness
of space art in the context of contemporary culture as well emphasizing
the importance of continued space exploration and development to
the
future well
being of the human
species.
It is within the possibilities of ars astronautica to
initiate various activities that further the space arts in the
general public and
among the art community. These include establishing a marketplace for
space art, a forum for the discussion
of the technical issues and cultural aspects related to
space art as well as the organization of exhibitions and art
projects on Earth and, whenever possible, in space.
To this extent ars astronautica plans
to offer a variety of internet services to space artists, will
regularly publish the latest space art news on this website, will
develop
a Space Art Gallery and
maintain an interactive Forum for
its Associates.
The
OURS Foundation, a non-profit cultural and
astronautical organization, has been the sponsor of this initiative
and it is already involved in
a number of current space art projects such as developing the "SpaceartS:
the Space Art Database", to document the vastness of
space art and the "ITSF-Innovative
Technologies in Science Fiction for Space Activities".
Earlier projects include the in-space realizations
of the Cosmic
Dancer Sculpture in 1993 and "Ars
Ad Astra: The 1st Art Exhibition in Earth Orbit" in 1995.
On Earth projects include the organization of a number of international
space art exhibitions in Switzerland, Norway, Italy and Australia.
Together with the arts journal Leonardo,
the OURS Foundation
has co-organized a number of Space
Art Workshops bringing together artists and space scientists.
These projects are really only the beginning of
what is possible.
We are convinced
that a greater visibility for the arts in and about space can
be achieved through ars astronautica.
The result should be broader interest in space and the arts in
general and
hopefully a more interest in the works of the artists who are
represented on this website. However, this can only happen
by working together. |
