Moonwalking artist's work on exhibit
Eric Grosso
Issue date: 10/18/05 Section: ae
Few artists have truly lived their work. Even fewer can capture the American spirit with their memories. In the latest exhibit at the Butler Institute of American Art, former astronaut Alan Bean reveals his experiences of space travel with American courage and character in his paintings.
Bean is the first, and only, artist to paint from actual experience from beyond Earth. "Alan Bean: An Artist on the Moon" at the Butler Institute of American Art will feature his critically acclaimed paintings from Oct. 15 to Dec. 31.
Bean served as the Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot and was the fourth man to walk on the moon, one of only 12. He also was the Commander of Skylab 2 mission, traveling 24.4 million miles during 59 days in space and was the first man to eat spaghetti in space. Bean has logged more than 1,671 hours and 45 minutes in space.
Retiring from NASA in 1981, Bean is revered for his paintings of space as much as the time he spent there. It began as a hobby, but Bean took a suggestion from a friend and started painting for a living.
"I had a lot of nice job offers for a lot for a lot of money, but I didn't care about them," Bean said. "I care about these paintings."
Noting how the United States prayed and cheered during the journey, Bean insists if you look close in each of his paintings, you can find the spirit of Apollo.
"Every human heart knows that spirit, because every one of us is born with it inside us," Bean said.
Spending 18 years learning space hardware, the amount of detail going into his work goes unmatched by any other space artist. He often spends days on small specifics, such as tiny collectors and hooks on a space suit, evident by the incredible detail in his paintings.
Using more than just his memories, Bean gives a rather unique touch to his work. A few of his paintings include moon dust, complete with footprints from moon boots, small pieces of an American flag used on the moon, patches from his space suit as well as small bits of the Apollo 12 heat shield. Before he even starts painting, Bean makes imprints with space tools on each canvas.
"I do it just to make it moon-like. The moon is very rugged," Bean said in an interview with CNN.
Bean noted he regrets he didn't do any sketching while in space. Now he relies on memories, photographs and conversations with other astronauts to complete his work.
Bean holds 11 world records in space and aeronautics and has received numerous awards, including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal and the Robert J. Collier Trophy.
Bean has also detailed his experiences in "Apollo: An Eyewitness Account" written in 1998.
"Alan Bean: An Artist on the Moon" at the Butler Institute of American Art is free to the public.
Call Eric Grosso at (330) 941-3758.
Bean is the first, and only, artist to paint from actual experience from beyond Earth. "Alan Bean: An Artist on the Moon" at the Butler Institute of American Art will feature his critically acclaimed paintings from Oct. 15 to Dec. 31.
Bean served as the Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot and was the fourth man to walk on the moon, one of only 12. He also was the Commander of Skylab 2 mission, traveling 24.4 million miles during 59 days in space and was the first man to eat spaghetti in space. Bean has logged more than 1,671 hours and 45 minutes in space.
Retiring from NASA in 1981, Bean is revered for his paintings of space as much as the time he spent there. It began as a hobby, but Bean took a suggestion from a friend and started painting for a living.
"I had a lot of nice job offers for a lot for a lot of money, but I didn't care about them," Bean said. "I care about these paintings."
Noting how the United States prayed and cheered during the journey, Bean insists if you look close in each of his paintings, you can find the spirit of Apollo.
"Every human heart knows that spirit, because every one of us is born with it inside us," Bean said.
Spending 18 years learning space hardware, the amount of detail going into his work goes unmatched by any other space artist. He often spends days on small specifics, such as tiny collectors and hooks on a space suit, evident by the incredible detail in his paintings.
Using more than just his memories, Bean gives a rather unique touch to his work. A few of his paintings include moon dust, complete with footprints from moon boots, small pieces of an American flag used on the moon, patches from his space suit as well as small bits of the Apollo 12 heat shield. Before he even starts painting, Bean makes imprints with space tools on each canvas.
"I do it just to make it moon-like. The moon is very rugged," Bean said in an interview with CNN.
Bean noted he regrets he didn't do any sketching while in space. Now he relies on memories, photographs and conversations with other astronauts to complete his work.
Bean holds 11 world records in space and aeronautics and has received numerous awards, including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal and the Robert J. Collier Trophy.
Bean has also detailed his experiences in "Apollo: An Eyewitness Account" written in 1998.
"Alan Bean: An Artist on the Moon" at the Butler Institute of American Art is free to the public.
Call Eric Grosso at (330) 941-3758.
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