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Unfolding the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope: Combining Art, Science, and Technology for Public Outreach

2023

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope falls neatly into the nexus of art and science. Webb is the largest, most complex space telescope built to date, with 18 mirror segments, optimized for reflecting infrared light with a gold coating. The mirrors help the telescope peer back intime to see the universe a few hundred million years after the big bang - but are also visually stunning. Since Webb’s reveal of its first images/data on July 12, 2022, it continues to give us unprecedented and inspirational views of the universe. To create interest in science and technology we must convey the wonder of exploration, which makes Webb+art the perfect combination. Who better to convey that sense of wonder to the public than artists? Art can build bridges between science and those who are tentative, drawing them in, and showing them that science is accessible; one way it does this is by representing complex concepts in abstract ways that can feel more approachable than traditional science outreach. The “Unfolding the Universe: Webb Outreach Through Art” goals were two-fold - to reach out to artists, inspiring and engaging them, and then to have the artists share what excited them with the public and their followers. Though NASA is not new to the use of art, Masetti originated the use of artists and social media to promote the Webb mission. She created a2016 artist event in front of the actual telescope, while it was at NASA Goddard, that spawned multiple Webb-inspired in-person art exhibits, two social media campaigns that have generated nearly 1000 pieces of art world-wide - and inspired similar art outreach efforts from other missions like Psyche and Artemis. Zelinskie, one of the artists from the2016 artist event, has gone on to create virtual and physical art based on Webb, most recently in the “Unfolding the Universe” exhibit in NYC at ONX Studio in 2022. The art Zelinskie created both interprets technical concepts (while retaining scientific accuracy) and incorporates elements of the science into the art itself. “Unfolding the Universe: WebbOutreach Through Art,” seeks to break stereotypes of scientists and engineers (of whom Stewart is one) - but also of artists and art. To solve the mysteries of the universe, international collaborations utilizing the universal language of math are essential. Art transcends language; science-based art is very culturally inclusive, and has room for all ages,genders, and races, and allows us to introduce Webb to new, diverse audiences.

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Unfolding the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope: Combining Art, Science, and Technology for Public Outreach

2023

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope falls neatly into the nexus of art and science. Webb is the largest, most complex space telescope built to date, with 18 mirror segments, optimized for reflecting infrared light with a gold coating. The mirrors help the telescope peer back intime to see the universe a few hundred million years after the big bang - but are also visually stunning. Since Webb’s reveal of its first images/data on July 12, 2022, it continues to give us unprecedented and inspirational views of the universe. To create interest in science and technology we must convey the wonder of exploration, which makes Webb+art the perfect combination. Who better to convey that sense of wonder to the public than artists? Art can build bridges between science and those who are tentative, drawing them in, and showing them that science is accessible; one way it does this is by representing complex concepts in abstract ways that can feel more approachable than traditional science outreach. The “Unfolding the Universe: Webb Outreach Through Art” goals were two-fold - to reach out to artists, inspiring and engaging them, and then to have the artists share what excited them with the public and their followers. Though NASA is not new to the use of art, Masetti originated the use of artists and social media to promote the Webb mission. She created a2016 artist event in front of the actual telescope, while it was at NASA Goddard, that spawned multiple Webb-inspired in-person art exhibits, two social media campaigns that have generated nearly 1000 pieces of art world-wide - and inspired similar art outreach efforts from other missions like Psyche and Artemis. Zelinskie, one of the artists from the2016 artist event, has gone on to create virtual and physical art based on Webb, most recently in the “Unfolding the Universe” exhibit in NYC at ONX Studio in 2022. The art Zelinskie created both interprets technical concepts (while retaining scientific accuracy) and incorporates elements of the science into the art itself. “Unfolding the Universe: WebbOutreach Through Art,” seeks to break stereotypes of scientists and engineers (of whom Stewart is one) - but also of artists and art. To solve the mysteries of the universe, international collaborations utilizing the universal language of math are essential. Art transcends language; science-based art is very culturally inclusive, and has room for all ages,genders, and races, and allows us to introduce Webb to new, diverse audiences.

No items found.
No items found.

Unfolding the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope: Combining Art, Science, and Technology for Public Outreach

2023

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope falls neatly into the nexus of art and science. Webb is the largest, most complex space telescope built to date, with 18 mirror segments, optimized for reflecting infrared light with a gold coating. The mirrors help the telescope peer back intime to see the universe a few hundred million years after the big bang - but are also visually stunning. Since Webb’s reveal of its first images/data on July 12, 2022, it continues to give us unprecedented and inspirational views of the universe. To create interest in science and technology we must convey the wonder of exploration, which makes Webb+art the perfect combination. Who better to convey that sense of wonder to the public than artists? Art can build bridges between science and those who are tentative, drawing them in, and showing them that science is accessible; one way it does this is by representing complex concepts in abstract ways that can feel more approachable than traditional science outreach. The “Unfolding the Universe: Webb Outreach Through Art” goals were two-fold - to reach out to artists, inspiring and engaging them, and then to have the artists share what excited them with the public and their followers. Though NASA is not new to the use of art, Masetti originated the use of artists and social media to promote the Webb mission. She created a2016 artist event in front of the actual telescope, while it was at NASA Goddard, that spawned multiple Webb-inspired in-person art exhibits, two social media campaigns that have generated nearly 1000 pieces of art world-wide - and inspired similar art outreach efforts from other missions like Psyche and Artemis. Zelinskie, one of the artists from the2016 artist event, has gone on to create virtual and physical art based on Webb, most recently in the “Unfolding the Universe” exhibit in NYC at ONX Studio in 2022. The art Zelinskie created both interprets technical concepts (while retaining scientific accuracy) and incorporates elements of the science into the art itself. “Unfolding the Universe: WebbOutreach Through Art,” seeks to break stereotypes of scientists and engineers (of whom Stewart is one) - but also of artists and art. To solve the mysteries of the universe, international collaborations utilizing the universal language of math are essential. Art transcends language; science-based art is very culturally inclusive, and has room for all ages,genders, and races, and allows us to introduce Webb to new, diverse audiences.