In March 1962, James Webb, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, suggested that artists be enlisted to document the historic effort to send the first human beings to the moon. John Walker, director of the National Gallery of Art, was among those who applauded the idea, urging that artists be encouraged "…not only to record the physical appearance of the strange new world which space technology is creating, but to edit, select and probe for the inner meaning and emotional impact of events which may change the destiny of our race."

Working together, James Dean, a young artist employed by the NASA Public Affairs office, and Dr. H. Lester Cooke, curator of paintings at the National Gallery of Art, created a program that dispatched artists to NASA facilities with an invitation to paint whatever interested them. The result was an extraordinary collection of works of art proving, as one observer noted, "that America produced not only scientists and engineers capable of shaping the destiny of our age, but also artists worthy to keep them company." Transferred to the National Air and Space Museum in 1975, the NASA art collection remains one of the most important elements of what has become perhaps the world's finest collection of aerospace themed art.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Date

1972

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

ART-Paintings

Medium

Painting, Brushed Ink on Paper

Artist

Chet Jezierski

Physical Description

Apollo 16-EVA II, 22 April 1972. A page from a spiral-bound sketchbook. The many screens of the Network Operations Control Center are depicted against a black background and the blue-green wall with yellow lights above. The first screen in the top left is a green map of the world with a vertical row of four clock faces on each side and a heading of "Goddard Network" above. To the right is an angled rectangular screen with four columns of bright horizontal bars, perhaps suggesting textual data. On the lower left is a screen showing an astronaut with his gold-visor helmet. In the center is a green map of the moon. On the right is a rectangular area with a graph, round insignia, and several brightly colored blocks. The text in the lower left corner reads: "Apollo 16 - EVA II - Goddard Spaceflight Center Display - 22 April 72." The text in the lower right corner reads: "The spectacular view of the Network Operations Control Center display…from the visitors viewing area."

Dimensions

2-D - Unframed (H x W) (Painting): 45.6 × 60.3cm (1 ft. 5 15/16 in. × 1 ft. 11 3/4 in.)
3-D (Sketchbook, Closed): 61.6 × 45.6 × 1.6cm (2 ft. 1/4 in. × 1 ft. 5 15/16 in. × 5/8 in.)

Inventory Number

A19750946000

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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