Space Art & Beyond
Derek Gores Creates Live Masterpiece, As Only He Can
In the midst of the unprecedented mix of a pandemic and widespread protests, space exploration gave us pause. We once again launched astronauts from the Space Coast, in June — the significance of such a feat triggering deep pride, reflection and renewed hope for the future.
Even with the ever increasing launch cadence, we continue to celebrate the history that got us here.
Last fall marked a milestone for space exploration with the 50th anniversary of Apollo 12. Kennedy Space Center worked with the Hipsetter Group to create special events, commission acclaimed local artist Derek Gores to commemorate the anniversary with an original work of art, create content for social media and introduce the public to rarely seen artwork from NASA’s archives.
Art has played an important role in illuminating and preserving space exploration since the NASA Art Program began in 1962. The Apollo 12 astronauts were advocates of the arts. Astronaut Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon, had a prolific career as an artist after his retirement.
Derek Gores is based on the Space Coast and is internationally recognized for the lush dreamscapes he creates out of recycled magazines, maps, data and more. His collectors and clients include Prada, Adidas, Kentucky Derby, Playboy and the NFL. He helps aspirational brands tell their stories through art.
Gores created the art during a two-day live installation last fall at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center (KSCVC) while positioned directly under Shuttle Atlantis and surrounded by inspirational artwork from NASA’s archives, including works by Andy Warhol, Annie Leibowitz and Norman Rockwell.
Thousands of visitors engaged with Gores while he created the artwork from torn pieces of paper including Apollo 12 photos, mementos from the astronaut’s families, NASA documents, and memories submitted by the public through a social media hashtag campaign. The live event was documented in a short film featured at the unveiling.
"What an honor to have the chance to capture all of that history in a piece of art,” Gores reflected. “Digging through data logs, mission control transcripts and countless photos was a surreal thrill. David Bowie was my soundtrack, of course."
The final 8-foot square artwork was unveiled at the Apollo 12 Gala last fall at the Apollo/Saturn V Center in front of a crowd of dignitaries and space lovers.
“Having an artist like Derek Gores do a live art installation at KSCVC gave our guests a rare opportunity to see something historical manifest...as he created a beautiful piece of fine art in a very non-traditional setting. It was inspiring,” said Alyse Sklover, who heads events education at KSCVC.
The piece features the official crew insignia for the mission — a clipper ship that symbolically relates the era of the clipper ship to the era of space flight. As the clipper ship brought foreign shores closer to the United States and marked the increased utilization of the seas by this nation, spacecraft have opened the way to other planets, new opportunities and hope for the future.
Learn More:
Insta: @derekgores
Facebook: /DerekGoresArtist
Local: Private studio by appointment
Short film capturing Derek’s Apollo XII live creation:
Marsha Lewis Meyers is the founder and president of The Hipsetter Group. She is an innovator who has a track record for creating and implementing effective marketing, branding, sales and communication programs for companies like Live Nation, ABC TV, Kentucky Derby as well as Kennedy Space Center and Foosaner Art Museum at Florida Tech. Learn more at hipsettergroup.com.
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