Artist Patrick Fish has assembled a large collection of digital images from young and emerging artists all of whom have been moved to create artwork as a result of seeing Carl Sagan's COSMOS series. A small number of these images are reproduced here with permission of the artists. During the opening reception some COSMOS related videos will be shown.
Artist Patrick Fish has assembled a large collection of digital images from young and emerging artists all of whom have been moved to create artwork as a result of seeing Carl Sagan's COSMOS series. A small number of these images are reproduced here with permission of the artists. During the opening reception some COSMOS related videos will be shown.
Artist Patrick Fish has assembled a large collection of digital images from young and emerging artists all of whom have been moved to create artwork as a result of seeing Carl Sagan's COSMOS series. A small number of these images are reproduced here with permission of the artists. During the opening reception some COSMOS related videos will be shown.
Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the PBS Series
COSMOS: A Personal Voyage written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan and Steven Soter
In conjunction with the Light in Winter Festival This exhibit demonstrates the intersection of science and art
On display at Tompkins County Public Library January 21 through February 27, 2011 Opening ReceptionFriday, January 21, 5:008:00 PM
made possible by grant support from the Brooks Family Foundation and the Community Arts Partnership Of Tompkins County 2
This exhibit demonstrates the intersection of science and art and features recent images from the Cassini Mission images from the Mars Exploration Rover Mission paintings from Barbara Minks Event Horizons series The Big Dipper by Dan Larkin and original and digital images created in celebration of Sagans life and work by artists inspired by COSMOS, collected by Patrick Fish 3 Curators Statement
When Patrick Fish first brought to me the idea for an art exhibit celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Carl Sagans COSMOS series, I was excited but not sure what should be included.
Patrick Fish has assembled a large collection of digital images from young and emerging artists all of whom have been moved to create artwork as a result of seeing Carl Sagans COSMOS se- ries. A small number of these images are reproduced here with permission of the artists. In some instances the originals them- selves are on display. During the opening reception some COSMOS related videos will be shown
As well as showing these artistic responses to the life and work of Sagan, I wanted to include images relative to the work in which Sagan would surely be involved if he was alive today. I am grateful to J oe Burns, Cornell Professor of Astronomy and Irving Porter Church Professor of Engineering, for making it possi- ble to include some of the most recent images from the Cassini Mission in this exhibit. I am also grateful to Professor J im Bell who directed me to his colleagues Emily Dean and Elaina McCartney, Cornell Department of Radiophysics and Space Research who have generously made the Mars Exploration Rover images avail- able for this exhibit.
Thanks are due to Barbara Mink for supporting my interpretation of her paintings from her Event Horizons series, 2009, and allowing me to include them in this exhibit.
Finally, when he was a child of seven, Carl Sagan asked the question: What are the stars? To his good fortune and ours, his parents took him straight to the nearest library. That was the first step in a life long journey that opened the way for him and countless others to a deeper understanding of the universe. I have included Dan Larkins photograph of the Big Dipper, taken locally, to show any one of us how we too can look at the stars and strive to follow in Carl Sagans footsteps and explore the uni- verse. Sally Grubb 4 Saturn at Equinox: Recent Images from the Cassini Mission
Saturn, ten times the Earths size and ten times as far from the Sun as our home world, is the most distant planet we can see without a telescope. Since 2004 the spacecraft Cassini has or- bited Saturn, revealing a dynamic world of wind and lightning, rippling rings and a menagerie of moons. Here we show ten im- ages (out of ~300,000 total that have been returned) with an emphasis on recent images obtained during Saturns spring equinox, a once-in-15-years event that occurred in August 2009. At equinox, the Sun illuminated the rings almost exactly edge- on. This allowed vertical ring features to cast long shadows, highlighting structures caused by interactions between the rings and various moons.
Sunlight then also reached the far northern latitudes of Saturns largest moon Titan. Unique among moons in our solar system, Titan has a dense atmosphere, weather systems and a land- scape eerily like Earth's. But Titan's surface is frigid: -180C (-290 F). While Earths surface is mainly composed of rock with many features carved by flowing water, Titans surface is solid water ice with valleys carved by flowing liquid methane (better known on Earth as natural gas). As the Sun has risen on Titans north pole, it has also set on the south pole of Saturns small moon Enceladus, where geysers spew frozen water-ice droplets into The Rite of Spring 5 space.
Earlier images from this mission that were exhibited at Cornells Johnson Museum of Art are now at Syracuses Museum of Sci- ence and Technology. A selection of Cassinis images can be found online at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov.
All images are provided by Cornell Universitys Cassini Coopera- tive. Special thanks to J oseph A. Burns, Cornell Professor of Astronomy and the Irving Porter Church Professor of Engineering.
Glowing Southern Lights Different detectors on the spacecraft can sense different wavelengths of radiation. In this false-color infrared image, reflected sunlight is blue, the planets internal heat is red and the aurorae are green. NASA/ J PL/LPL
A Busy Moon The 50-mile-long moon Prometheus (seen with its shadow at lower left) drifts along the narrow, ribbon-like F ring and every 14 hours dips into the rings core where it gouges out the visible slanted patterns. NASA/ J PL/SSI
The Rings Rough Rim In Summer 2009 the Sun crossed the ring plane, highlighting vertical fea- tures. Here, peaks up to 1.6 miles high cast long shadows across the oth- erwise flat rings. NASA/JPL/SSI
Rings and Moons This scene shows the main rings outer edge at right, where the 5-mile- wide moon Daphnis disturbs the ring vertically and clears a gap. At left is the isolated F ring. NASA/ J PL/SSI
The Rite of Spring With the Sun illuminating the rings from almost exactly edge-on the rings become extremely faint, even though their brightness has been in- creased 20-60 times relative to the planet. NASA/ J PL/SSI
Geysers on Enceladus Cassini discovered dramatic plumes of water ice spraying from cracks in the south polar region of the 150-mile-radius moon Enceladus, as seen 6 here from the dark side of the moon. NASA/ J PL/SSI
Rivers of Methane Apparent river valleys flow into a dark lake bed on the Titans surface. While Earths valleys are carved into solid rock by flowing water, Titans valley are gouged into solid water ice by flowing methane. ESA/ R. Pascal
Glint off a Titan Lake The final proof of standing liquid on Titans surface came when infrared sunlight was seen reflecting off the smooth surface of a methane lake. NASA/ J PL/LPL
Shadow on the Rings The shadow of the nearby moon Mimas forms a dark streak on the ex- tremely flat (less than 30-feet thick) rings NASA/ J PL/SSI
Confusing Beauty This natural-color view shows the un-illuminated side of the rings as they pass into Saturns shadow. Within the shadow, the inner rings can be seen in silhouette. At upper left, the rings cut off light to the planets northern hemisphere. NASA/J PL/SSI
Shadow on the Rings Confusing Beauty 7 Rover Landings: Cornell on Mars
Spectacular images from the surface of another world bring science and art together in this exhibition.
In 2000, Cornell University was selected by NASA to lead the design, development, testing, and operations of the scientific instruments for a robotic rover mission to the surface of Mars. Under the leadership of Steven W. Squyres, Cornells Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy and the principal investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission, and J ames F. Bell, professor of astronomy and the lead scientist for the mast-mounted color panoramic camera system called Pancam, the two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, began sending to Earth in J anuary 2004 the clearest, most detailed images of Martian Landscapes ever seen. The mission was originally designed to last ninety martian days (sols). Now starting the eigth year of operations on the surface of Mars, Spirit is spending the martian winter hibernating in a sandy region called Troy in Gusev Crater; Opportunity continues the long trek toward Endeavour Crater in Meridiani Planum, now visible on the horizon. The pictorial record of their journeys on the surface of Mars continues to grow.
Producing these images of Mars is truly a team effort. Hundreds of individuals contribute to the process of planning, executing, calibrating, and delivering the finished products. Several meetings are required each day via teleconferences from around the world, with both scientists and engineers collaborating to operate the rovers and collect data.
8 Each rover is about the size of a golf cart and is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments to collect evidence about the past environmental history of Mars, especially the history of liquid wa- ter. Each rovers Athena science payload includes Pancams two multispectral, high-resolution stereo cameras to view the Martian surface in unprecedented detail; the Microscopic Imager to produce extreme close-up views of target rocks and soils; engineering cameras called Navcams (for navigation), and Hazcams (for hazard avoidance); an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS); a Mssbauer Spectrometer; and a Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT).
The images and panoramas included in this exhibit are just a few of the hundreds of thousands of images acquired by both rovers.
Rover shadow
Opportunity took a routine end-of-drive hazard as- sessment image at the edge of Endurance crater with her Hazcams and saw her own shadow cast by the sun behind her. Cornell/NASA/ J PL
Dark dunes This scene, about 3 km high, shows the crests of large, dark sand dunes in the Russell crater on Mars. The image suggests that flow or slumping of the loose dune materials formed the small gullies. Some carbon di- oxide frost makes brighter patches. Image from the Mars Global Sur- veyor Spacecraft, courtesy of Michael C. Malin, Malin Space Science Systems. Longhorn Spirit acquired this four-frame mosaic of Longhorn in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater on Mars.
Burns Cliff Burns Cliff in Endurance Crater on the Meridiani Planum of Mars, named for late mineralogist and geochemist Roger Burns, proved to be too steep for Opportunity to climb. Before going back across the slope to egress the crater via a safer route, the science team wanted a mul- 9 tispectral record of the Burns Cliff stratigraphy to continue to "read" its geologic story. Cornell/NASA/ J PL
Roving Mars
Poster for the George Butler movie Roving Mars (2006). On loan from Steve Squyres.
RATs Nest
A series of RAT (Rock Abrasion Tool) holes were drilled in the strati- graphic layers of the Endurance craters sloped wall as the Opportunity rover drove down into the crater to explore. This false-color image of three holes, called RATs Nest, was aquired by the Pancam cameras.
Humphrey RAThole
This subframed image was taken by Spirits Pancam after the RAT (Rock Abrasion Tool) drilled into the surface of a rock called Humphrey.
Lander panorama (Spirit)
After landing on Mars in 2004, Spirit checked her systems and drove off the lander. She then turned and took a parting mosaic of the lander with her Pancam cameras before heading out to explore the surface.
Serpent Drift scuff
This 2x1 mosaic was taken by Opportunitys Pancam cameras after a scuff procedure carried out by the rover wheel to study the structure of the soil inside a drift named Serpent.
Portion of Endurance panorama
When Opportunity arrived at Endurance crater, panoramas were ac- quired from different positions to help the team choose the safest place for ingress. This is a portion of one panorama.
Fissure
This fissure was imaged by Opportunitys Pancam cameras near the Mars feature named Anatolia.
10 Mars Exploration Rover
This scale rendering of the Mars Exploration Rover was created by Dan Maas from engineer- ing drawings for the twin rovers Spirit and Oppor- tunity. This scene as well as animated simulations were created from what was known about Mars before the rovers landed early in 2004. Dan Mass/Cornell
Mars Exploration Rover Model This is a scale model of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Op- portunity with scientific instrument payload.
Trench
Sometimes the rovers have used their wheels to dig into the soil on Mars to reveal what is underneath the surface. This activity is called trenching. Impor- tant discoveries have been made using this tech- nique. Cornell/NASA/ J PL
Tracks
Opportunity used her Pancam cameras to look back at her own tracks on the surface of Mars. The image is slanted because the rover was parked on a slope when the image was acquired. Cornell/NASA/ J PL
Blueberries
Opportunitys Microscopic Imager took this closeup image of hematite "blueberries" in Eagle crater. NASA/ J PL
Mars Exploration Rover Model
This is a scale model of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Op- portunity with scientific instrument payload.
Tendrils
Opportunity's Pancam cameras captured this image of tendrils while exploring the bottom of Endurance Crater. The dune field was inacces- sible except for remote sensing, as there was concern that the rover would become trapped in the soft soil. The dunes and tendrils, also visible in orbital images, remain untouched by the rover. Cornell/NASA/ J PL
11 Barbara Mink 607-227-6290 barbara.mink@gmail.com
With a nod to the Romantics and Abstract Expressionism, my work rests on the energy of the gesture, the visible trace of the process, and the coherence of carefully controlled elements, with textures and density ranging from thickly layered to ephemeral.
Images from Event Horizons2009
Astronomical Telegrams Acrylic on canvas $1,250
First String Acrylic on canvas $3,000
Phase Transition Acrylic on canvas $1,500
Second String crylic on canvas $1,750
You Cant Get There (From Here) Acrylic on canvas $3,000
llegal Field Line Acrylic on canvas $1,250
"It is the nature of a successful work of art, in contrast to an exposition in science, that it presents the spectator with an open field for associa- tions, even beyond those consciously defined by the artist. The artist sets the parameters for the types of resonances, but does not enumeate or prescribe them." Martin 12 Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the PBS Series COSMOS: A Personal Voyage Written by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan and Steven Soter
Thirty years ago, PBS started airing a new kind of science show - COSMOS: A Personal Voyage, written by Carl Sagan, his wife Ann Druyan and Steven Soter. It was revolutionary for the visuals, the music, and for the way history and science were mixed together. People who never thought they had an interest in science were drawn to Sagan's mix of speculation and con- templation tempered by his rigorous adherence to hard facts. COSMOS was aired during the height of nuclear escalation dur- ing the cold war and had a profound effect on the body politic. Through the success of COSMOS, Carl Sagan became the peo- ple's scientist. As political leaders moved us toward nuclear oblivion, Sagan's influence on public opinion resulted in a pushback that helped encourage Reagan into peace talks with Gorbachev.
Whether it was teaching about the risk of nuclear winter, or de- bunking the potentially-destabilizing Star Wars program (Strategic Defense Initiative), Sagan became a very unlikely geopolitical player.
COSMOS came with a powerfully written narrative and a charis- matic presenter, but the music and accompanying visuals were almost as important. This series would cover everything, literally, and used the arts to help convey its message. It seems fitting then, that some of the non-scientists who Carl Sagan inspired would share their appreciation for his work through their art.
It's said that art begets art. Where Sagan's legacy is concerned it can be said that science begets art. During the past 14 months we have seen John Boswell's Symphony of Sci- ence (SOS) project burst on the scene. Through clever editing of COSMOS samples, he has created what some call a new hy- brid genre, a genre that is more like hymns for the rational. This 13 isn't surprising when we consider that one of COSMOS's central themes is awe and reverence for nature as revealed by science. Boswell's SOS music videos have created a new interest amongst the young in Sagan, science and the COSMOS series. The COS- MOS series is now inspiring a new generation to go into the sci- ences. There is also an emerging field of Sagan art where the works are clearly influenced by the Symphony of Science's treatment of Sagan. Some of this art is exhibited here. Patrick Fish
Sam Saxton A 21 year old artist in New York City, Saxton will graduate from the School of Visual Arts in spring, 2011. He was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania.
Consider Again, that Dot Carl Sagan, depicted with content from his TV series, COSMOS. Pen and ink, and Photoshop NFS A Collection of Organic Molecules Carl Sagan Pencil Caricature NFS
Pat Linse Pat Linse is an award winning illustrator who specialized in film industry art before becoming one of the founders of the Skeptics Society, Skeptic magazine, and the creator of Jr. Skeptic magazine. She has authored articles for Jr. Skeptic magazine and is co-editor of the "Encyclopedia of Pseudo- science." As Skeptics art director she has created many illustrations for both Skeptic and Jr. Skeptic .
Candle in the Dark Digital reproduction Original oil painting in Offices of Skeptic Magazine
Helen Sotiriadis www.helensotiriadis.com info@helensotiriadis.com Prints available upon request
Pale Blue Dandy A simple composition for Earth Day, 2009 Photograph 14 A dandelion reflects our dot in uncanny supersymmetry, poised to dis- perse each of our ships of imagination throughout the cosmos, to better understand the universe and ourselves.
Little Planet Pendeli Humanity, making its stand, working together to preserve our wounded and ever-shrinking home. Volunteer Reforestation Project, Athens, Greece, 2009
'The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and char- acter-building experience.
There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our re- sponsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.' Carl Sagan
Eduardo Urbina Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico eumartleon@gmail.com eumartleon.deviantart.com youtube.com/eumartleon
Un Viaje Personal Adobe Photoshop and Genius Tablet Prints available from the artist
A tribute to Carl who has inspired us to make our own personal voyages
Jessica Estrada jessicake42@gmail.com.
Billions and Billions electronic Photoshop CS4, Tablet
When I first saw Carl Sagan's COSMOS a couple of years ago, I was pro- foundly moved. I was not viewing an average, run-of-the-mill science program; instead, I spent that hour captivated by one man's love for the strange, beautiful vastness of the universe we find ourselves in. I came away from the series with the impression that Sagan was a man who treasured our universe, but, more noticeably, treasured our little Blue Marble--the Earth, a tiny jewel hanging in the grand necklace of
15 the multitudinous diamonds of the Milky Way, meant so much to Carl Sagan because of the imagination that had evolved into being upon it. I have attempted to capture that same fondness in this piece, as a stylized Carl Sagan cradles our planet from an ethereal standpoint.
Glorious Dawn Ink and Paper, Photoshop CS4
Carl Sagan's famous quote about a "still more glorious dawn" awaiting the human race has found its way into the hearts of science lovers everywhere. In books, in art, even in YouTube autotune renditions, this line has appealed to so many--why? I personally believe it is quote filled with imagination and hope, longing and joy.
Sagan knew that the glorious dawning of a galaxy-rise would not be seen in his lifetime, and yet still he afforded so much enthusiasm for our race finding its way into the stars; it is this enthusiasm that has stuck with people, inspirational for both the scientific mind and the emotional spirit. This piece is both a tribute to Carl Sagan passing on from our lives, as well as a bright representation of mankind heading "upwards" towards a more glorious dawn--with all the bright enthusiasm Sagan displayed in his lifetime.
Greg Mort Carl Sagan Portrait Oil on canvas Original in the collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Digital reproduction shown
Carl Sagan and the Cosmos Series had a profound influence on my art work as well as my passion for the wonders of the universe especially astronomy. I was first introduced to Carl Sagan at the Lowell Observatory and shortly there after I was honored when Dr. Sagan asked to use several of my paintings in his book Pale Blue Dot. Following Dr. Sagan's untimely death I met Anne Druyan at a White House science lecture and we struck up an instant friendship. I painted the portrait from my memories of meeting Dr. Sagan as well as images of him from the Cosmos series. It was a very moving experience when Anne Druyan and several members of the Sagan family come to my Maine studio for the unveiling of the portrait. I was very pleased to have it accepted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian because this will help to keep his remarkable legacy alive.
16 Manu Jrvinen manu.jarvinen@gmail.com
Profit Motive Has No Conscience Digital Painting Software: Adobe Photoshop, Blender 3D (free and open source 3D software)
Profit motive has no conscience is a quotation from Carl Sagans COSMOS series. The image is a representation of the world that the majority of us humans support by our everyday actions. The question is: why? Originally made as an activism poster for TheZeitgeistMovement.com , copies are available through the artist.
Joshua Tai Taeoalii tai@weirdchief.com www.weirdchief.com/artgallery.htm Digital reproduction Original Commissioned by Paul Unsbee NFS Created with spray paint and stencils resprays of the piece can be purchased for $65
Kelly Gilleran 170 Black Rock Tpke. Redding, CT 06896 Email: eugenerainy@yahoo.com Home Phone: 203-938-9884 Cell Phone: 203-470-0449 Online Gallery: eugenerainy.deviantart.com Prints available on request
Carl Sagan: Cosmos Year: 2010 Medium: Oil on Canvas
Spiral Sagan 2008 Mono-print with Watercolor and Marker $250
A few years ago I was introduced to Carl Sagan through the Cosmos series. One of the most striking factors about Sagan was his never-ending sense of wonder and the beauty he found in learning and being at home in our Cosmos. Though these three works present a more literal interpretation of Sagan, I can honestly say as an artist as well as an individual, there is no singular voice that has been more influential. Although there is a perceived gap between Art and Science, I would like to think that there is always a piece of Sagan throughout my narrative, as well as a continuing reflection of his sense of wonder and beauty. 17 Jorma Kortelainen
He Who Spoke for Earth Painted on canvas with acrylics Digital Print
He showed me how wonder, beauty and poetry can be found in the natural world through reason, skepticism, and intellectual honest.
E. Walsh
Sagan birthday Photoshop CS4 using a graphics tablet.
This work, a birthday gift for a fellow scientist who is very dear to me, R. Terrett, shows Carl Sagan sitting with alien characters from species invented by R. Terrett, on a very distant world.
Eleni Trigkatzi
"The Beauty of a living thing (is not the atoms that go into it)" acrylics on paper digital reproduction on glossy paper
Alternative universe version of the famous deer meeting.
Jemrz Woodard
Carls COSMOS
Digital Reproduction
Kira Lehman kasuna@gmail.com
He Speaks for Earth Adopbe Photoshop CS4 and Wacom Tablet, 2010
Reference photo used for Carl Sagan: Skeptic Magazine, vol13, #1 Repredocustions available at stellamari.deviantart.com 18
19 Dan Larkin larkman@frontiernet.net]
The Big Dipper Delayed action photograph POR
Dan Larkin is an Aassociate Professor and program chair of the BFA Fine Art Photography program in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In the summer of 2008 he was an artist-in-residence at the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts in Ithaca, NY.
While at the Saltonsall Foundation he first stumbled upon Saturn on the Sciencenters Planet Walk. He actively sought out the re- maining planets and attempted to make "concrete abstract" photographs in an attempt to represent each of them faithfully. These will be included in an exhibit he will curate at TCPL in the summer of 2011. On learning of this exhibit, Larkin agreed to show his photograph of the Big Dipper, taken while staying at the Saltonstall Foundation in Ithaca.
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