Art Talk To Offer Perspective of our Place in the Universe

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) The cosmic ocean which surrounds us is no longer a mythical place; it is governed by natural laws and can be observed and understood by science. The Figge Art Museum presents the art talk "Discovering a Universe beyond the Cosmic Shore" at 7 pm Thursday, July 19. Dr. John D. Johnson will lead the talk and focus on how astronomy takes us on a journey from the Big Bang through the formation of galaxies, stars and planets to the present day. The talk is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration and is free with Figge membership or paid admission.

During his talk, Dr. Johnson will offer perspective of our place in the Universe and emphasize the importance of space exploration through the use of various examples from the exhibition. "This talk will compare space to a vast ocean that we are beginning to explore, and I will compare this to how our ancestors took a chance and explored our own planet, setting out on adventures across the sea with no guarantee of success. It is in our nature to be explorers," Dr. Johnson said.

John D. Johnson has served as global security program manager for John Deere since 1999. Dr. Johnson is also an adjunct astronomy instructor at St. Ambrose University and Scott Community College. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from The University of Texas at Austin.

About NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2008, NASA collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the exhibition NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration. Drawn from the collections of NASA and the National Air and Space Museum, the exhibition features 72 works of art commissioned by the NASA Art Program. Established soon after the inception of the U.S. space program in 1958, NASA's Art Program provides a unique way to communicate the accomplishments, setbacks and sheer excitement of space exploration to the public. The selected works span the entire history of NASA and include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and other media by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, William Wegman and Jamie Wyeth.

NASA | ART at the Figge Art Museum is generously sponsored by the ALCOA Foundation, John Deere, Genesis Health Systems and Cobham, plc.

NASA | ART was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of "NASA | ART" public programs.

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