ELLIE’S DREAM (2010) by Michael Whelan Acrylic - 40” x 30” The vision that became ELLIE’S DREAM came to me exactly as you see it here. I was thinking about the Moon Race and the clear cloudless skies of my childhood days in California. The curving...
Pop-upView Separately

ELLIE’S DREAM (2010) by Michael Whelan

Acrylic - 40” x 30”  

The vision that became ELLIE’S DREAM came to me exactly as you see it here. I was thinking about the Moon Race and the clear cloudless skies of my childhood days in California. The curving structure is shaped to resemble a wind-twisted rocket contrail, something that I witnessed many times while living near Vandenberg missile base.  

I chose a girl at the pinnacle of the structure because humanity’s reach for the moon will be incomplete until a female crew lands there and explores the surface, representing the other half of our species. (She’s named after Dr. Ellie Arroway, the character in Carl Sagan’s CONTACT, portrayed by Jodie Foster in the movie, but that’s the only connection to the story.)  

The job remains undone, the dream unfulfilled. 

(via theartofmichaelwhelan)

Source: michaelwhelan.com

538 Notes/ Hide

  1. absolutesciencefiction reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  2. askmisssashamagick reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  3. itznymph reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  4. qupritsuvwix reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  5. bobbietables reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  6. iridescentjaq reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  7. earthaboveskybelow-archive reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  8. emsthebassist reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  9. agitated-cactus reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  10. randomnessstuff reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  11. mixcellaneas-blog reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  12. weaverworks reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  13. the-dude-who-stare-at-night reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan
  14. theartofmichaelwhelan reblogged this from theartofmichaelwhelan