The Met & Other NYC Institutions Celebrate Apollo 11's Mission To The Moon

The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the mission that put a man on the moon, is coming up on July 20th, and it's being observed in numerous and at times totally random ways. For instance, Duran Duran is performing at the Kennedy Space Center; A 363-foot image of a rocket will be projected on the Washington Monument; and Barbie is releasing a "Space Oddity" Barbie. Meanwhile, the media is still fighting conspiracy theories and publishing stories proving we did in fact land on the moon.

Here in New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is paying tribute with an exhibition called "Apollo's Muse: The Moon in the Age of Photography," which will feature over 170 photographs alongside selected drawings, prints, paintings, films, video arts, astronomical instruments, and cameras used by Apollo astronauts.

"The moon has long been a nearly universal source of fascination and inspiration,” said Max Hollein, Director of The Met. "This exhibition shows us how photography introduced new dimensions to its documentation and interpretation, and explores the tremendous impact that the 1969 moon landing had on artists of the time—the lasting effects of which still resonate today."

A museum press release detailed some of the works, which includes highlights like "two newly discovered lunar daguerreotypes from the 1840s, believed to be the earliest existing photographs of the moon," as well as works by pioneers of lunar photography. The use of the camera to "create fanciful depictions of space travel and life on the moon" will also be a focus. This, of course, all leads up to the "stunning photographs captured by early lunar expeditions sent by the Soviet and American space programs, culminating in the crewed missions of the Apollo program... The final section of the show will focus on art created in the wake of the 1969 Moon landing through the present day."

The NY Times praised the exhibition, calling it an "outsize and beautifully installed revelation of persistent astronomical searches" that "is a trailblazing marriage of science and art."

Outside of the Met, here's how other institutions are marking the occasion:

If you did not get a chance to see Apollo 11, the recently released documentary, in a theater, we strongly recommend asking your friend or relative with the biggest, best TV monitor to hosting a screening. It's incredibly thrilling, and the film includes stunning newly rediscovered footage and negatives from the National Archives.

And here's the full NASA footage of the moon walk itself:

Source: Gothamist.com

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Apollo 11 • Apollo 11 • Apollo 11 • Duran Duran • Kennedy Space Center • Rocket • Washington Monument • Barbie • Space Oddity • Barbie • Mass media • Conspiracy theory • New York City • Metropolitan Museum of Art • Exhibition • Apollo • Moon • Photography • Photograph • Printmaking • Painting • Photographic film • Astronomy • Apollo program • Astronaut • Moon • Max Hollein • Photography • Apollo 11 • Visual arts • Special effect • Photography • Moon • Daguerreotype • Photograph • Moon • Photography • Camera • Spaceflight • Moon • Soviet Union • Human spaceflight • Apollo program • Apollo 11 • The New York Times • Revelation • Astronomy • Science • Art • Apollo 11 • Theatre • Television • Film • National Archives and Records Administration • NASA • Jackson Square (New Orleans) •