Celestial Imaginings: Artists Exploring the Galaxies
On View July 8, 2023 Through January 28, 2024
Located in the Republic Finance Gallery
Have you ever looked up at the sky on a starry night? Were you searching for the key to life’s mysteries in the heavens above? Then you are not alone. Throughout history, humans have been searching for answers in the stars.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, we have chosen eight contemporary artists who are searching for answers to life’s mysteries by combining art and science, influenced by gazing up at the sky and trying to make meaning of what they see. These artists’ interpretations of the stars, planets, and night sky reflect the long-standing tradition of using celestial bodies to investigate the mysteries of the cosmos. They attempt to answer questions about who we are and why we are here.
Have you ever looked up at the sky on a starry night? Were you searching for the key to life’s mysteries in the heavens above? Then you are not alone. Throughout history, humans have been searching for answers in the stars.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, we have chosen eight contemporary artists who are searching for answers to life’s mysteries by combining art and science, influenced by gazing up at the sky and trying to make meaning of what they see. These artists’ interpretations of the stars, planets, and night sky reflect the long-standing tradition of using celestial bodies to investigate the mysteries of the cosmos. They attempt to answer questions about who we are and why we are here.
Thank you to our sponsors
About the Exhibit
Scientists and artists alike are focusing on what lies beyond our planet more than ever before. NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s) latest project, the Artemis program, plans to build a sustainable human presence on and around the moon to prepare for future missions to Mars. With the launching of the James Webb Space Telescope, humankind can see farther than ever before, ironically answering questions about the universe while also creating a whole new set of questions never imagined.
The artists of Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s exhibition Celestial Imaginings: Artists Exploring the Galaxies have used scientific processes, made observations, and studied the mechanics of the universe. They have used those investigations to inspire their work and spark the imagination of both themselves and audiences of all backgrounds. They are exploring the cosmos by creating original artworks inspired by the science of the world around us. These artists and scientists are often found gazing at the sky and making sense of what they see.
The artists of Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s exhibition Celestial Imaginings: Artists Exploring the Galaxies include Rachel Brumer, Nick Hobbs, Jackie Haxthausen, Jedidiah Dore, Meagan Moore, Eleanor Owen Kerr, Ophelia Chambliss, and Dawn DeDeaux.
Celestial Imaginings: Artists Exploring the Galaxies in The Republic Finance Gallery is generously supported by Entergy and the Alma Lee, Norman and Cary Saurage Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum has also received a 2023 Louisiana Culture Care Fund Grant, which provides generous general operating support related to LASM’s exhibitions. Funding for this 2023 Louisiana Culture Care Fund Grant has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities.
