POOPS #11 (Groonek-Uplek-R4F)
Paintings of other planets’ sunsets (POOPS): As part of its interplanetary documentary program, NASA invited artists to accompany its missions to distant galaxies so they could paint these magnificent new worlds. But there was a problem. No traditional artistic media could survive the grueling effects of space travel: oil paint, acrylic, gouache, pencils, crayons, pens and even photographic film all deteriorated beyond use.
But after trial and error, one medium that could withstand the lightyears-long flights was discovered: Frozen ice cubes, dyed with food coloring. So NASA knew it had no choice but to recruit Bryant Rousseau, the foremost ice cube artist of our age, to use these chilly blocks of color to depict the alien landscapes at dusk.
Each painting records both the planet’s local name (closest pronunciation possible in human sounds) and its NASA-designated space number.
Artist: Bryant Rousseau/NASA
Medium: Melting ice, dyed with food coloring, and ink (added after return to Earth); on 11” x 8.5” NASA-approved heavy paper; signed; matted; and framed (14” x 11” wooden frame)
The copyright symbols are digital watermarks only; they do NOT appear on the actual artwork.
To view the full, uncropped artwork, right click and open image in new tab.
Paintings of other planets’ sunsets (POOPS): As part of its interplanetary documentary program, NASA invited artists to accompany its missions to distant galaxies so they could paint these magnificent new worlds. But there was a problem. No traditional artistic media could survive the grueling effects of space travel: oil paint, acrylic, gouache, pencils, crayons, pens and even photographic film all deteriorated beyond use.
But after trial and error, one medium that could withstand the lightyears-long flights was discovered: Frozen ice cubes, dyed with food coloring. So NASA knew it had no choice but to recruit Bryant Rousseau, the foremost ice cube artist of our age, to use these chilly blocks of color to depict the alien landscapes at dusk.
Each painting records both the planet’s local name (closest pronunciation possible in human sounds) and its NASA-designated space number.
Artist: Bryant Rousseau/NASA
Medium: Melting ice, dyed with food coloring, and ink (added after return to Earth); on 11” x 8.5” NASA-approved heavy paper; signed; matted; and framed (14” x 11” wooden frame)
The copyright symbols are digital watermarks only; they do NOT appear on the actual artwork.
To view the full, uncropped artwork, right click and open image in new tab.