Alan Bean - Reaching For The Stars Print
Reaching For The Stars
Limited Edition Signed Canvas Giclée Print by Alan Bean
Captain Alan Bean was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, the fourth man to walk on the moon and commander of Skylab 2. “I am fortunate enough to have seen sights no other artist ever has,” Bean says. “I want my paintings to communicate an emotional experience in ways that photography cannot.” Captain Bean creates his original works of art using a unique technique allowing the viewer to actually sense vestiges of the 20th century's most dramatic accomplishments. Pressed into the canvas surfaces are Captain Bean's authentic lunar boot “moonprints,” impressions from a core tube-bit used to collect soil samples and marks from a hammer used to drive the staff of the American flag into the moon's surface. Moon dust, trapped on the patches on the outside of his suit, makes its way onto each original as well. Each print and canvas is an historical record of the lunar experience, as each is signed by moonwalker Captain Alan Bean, with most countersigned by other moonwalkers and astronauts.This may be your only chance to own such a visionary and historic celebration of man's greatest achievement. NASA was sometimes asked “Why not send an artist to the moon?” It turns out they did.
When he wasn't flying, Bean always enjoyed painting as a hobby. Attending night classes at St. Mary’’’’s College in Maryland in 1962, Alan experimented with landscapes. During training and between missions as a test pilot and astronaut, he continued private art lessons. On space voyages, his artist’’’’s eye and talent enabled him to document impressions of the Moon and space to be preserved later on canvas. His art reflects the attention to detail of the aeronautical engineer, the respect for the unknown of the astronaut and the unabashed appreciation of a skilled painter.
Owning a Piece of History: Possibly not since the Declaration of Independence have two dozen great American heroes joined together to countersign and create such a historically significant work of art. In October, 1997, the astronauts came together for three reasons: to declare the expansion and renovation of the Astronaut Hall of Fame, to celebrate the induction of Apollo-era astronauts to the Hall (with Walter Cronkite as emcee) and to countersign Reaching for the Stars—specifically created to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event. the personal and individual signatures of each astronaut are written on the textured surface of this special, superior-quality canvas.
Reaching for the Stars is one of the most fascinating and important records of the exploration of space you could possibly own.
Counter-signers: Buzz Aldrin (Gemini 12 & Apollo 11) Alan L. Bean (Apollo 12 & Skylab 3) M. Scott Carpenter (Mercury 7) Gerald P. Carr (Skylab 4) Charles "Pete" Conrad (Gemini 5 & Gemini 11, Apollo 12, Skylab 3) L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. (Mercury 9) Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7) Charles M. Duke, Jr. (Apollo 16) Owen K. Garriott (Skylab 3) Edward G. Gibson (Skylab 4) John H. Glenn, Jr. (Mercury 6) Richard F. Gordon, Jr. (Gemini 11 & Apollo 12) Fred W. Haise, Jr. (Apollo 13) James A. Lovell (Gemini 12 & Apollo 8 & Apollo 13) Jack R. Lousma (Skylab 3) James A. McDivitt (Gemini 4 & Apollo 9) Edgar D. Mitchell (Apollo 14) William R. Pogue (Skylab 4) Walter M Schirra, Jr. (Gemini 6, Mercury 9, Apollo 7) Russell L. Schweickart (Apollo 9) Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (Mercury 3 & Apollo 14) Thomas P. Stafford (Gemini 6, 9, Apollo 10 & Apollo-Soyuz) Paul J. Weitz (Skylab 2) Alfred M. Worden (Apollo 15)
Reaching for the Stars was created for the rotunda of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame as an inspirational mural. In his work of art, you can actually feel and see the vestiges of lunar exploration. Just as with his original, your canvas features Alan Bean’’s trademark “moonprints” of authentic lunar boots, impressions from a core tube-bit used to collect lunar soil samples and marks from a hammer used to drive the staff of the American flag into the Moon’’s surface.
Meticulously produced over a five months period, this textured canvas faithfully recreates the look and feel of the original painting—including the artist’’s brush strokes—using a state-of-the-art combination of technological, artistic and craftsmanship skills. No other reproduction process compares in quality and value. The resulting fine art canvas is as close as you will come to owning the original work of art.
Custom Framing Available
Image size: 27"w x 34"h.
Limited Edition of: 1500
