Space For Us and Tulsa Artist Fellowship present Earthbound, a dark sky preservation exhibition on view at Flagship from October 4 through December 7. Through the artistic lens, explore how creative expression and imagination fuel science. Examine humanity’s interconnectedness and contemplate the passage of time. Appreciate the fragile beauty of our natural environment.

Astronauts who observe Earth from space experience the “overview effect.” They return with a newfound appreciation for our planet and a desire to be better stewards of it. But how can those of us who may never have the opportunity to visit space achieve the same critical perspective? For many individuals, experiencing a truly dark sky, devoid of artificial light, and beholding the stars can be as transformative.

We have learned that our disconnection from natural wonders has resulted in cultural losses, health impacts, and a diminished appreciation for our planet and its vast universe. Earthbound is an invitation to reclaim the night sky, rediscover the tranquility and wonder it provides, and acknowledge its profound impact on our understanding of the cosmos and our place in it.

Participants include Mattaniah Aytenfsu, Artist and UX Engineer; Dr. Sian Proctor, Astronaut, Artist, and Geologist; Tyler Thrasher, Artist and Chemist; Marlena Myles (Dakota), Digital Artist; and Cheyenne Smith, Space for Us Founder, Aspiring Astrophysicist, and Tulsa Artist Fellowship Arts Worker.

When you leave Earthbound, we ask that you remember that we are all from the same tiny corner of the universe — part of an infinite and intimately familiar greater whole. The night sky is a bridge that connects us all.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

On View
October 4 – December 7, 2024

Opening Reception
Friday, October 4, 2024 | 5pm - 7pm

Open House 2024 - Extended Hours
Saturday, October 5, 2024 | 12pm - 9pm
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 12pm - 4pm

INSTALLATION VIEWS

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Mattaniah Aytenfsu is a UX engineer for YouTube and a budding TikTok influencer. Always being open to new opportunities and avenues led Aytenfsu to the land of TikTok, where she started posting videos revolving around the intersection of art, design, and engineering. She is the definition of the best of both worlds when it comes to art and tech. With multiple viral moments under her belt, it was one particular video that got the social media community buzzing — her painting that she turned into a musical instrument. Although she initially started the innovative project almost exactly a year after its publication date in December 2021, views on the video now stand at nearly 3,000,000 views as of this writing. Her design engineering background includes working for YouTube, Google, and NASA, in addition to creating works for Spotify and Acura.

Dr. Sian Leo Proctor’s artistic journey is as extraordinary as the cosmic vistas she captures. Born from the crucible of 2020's global pandemic, her art became a bridge between Earth and space, winning her a seat on SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission and making her the first Black female artist to paint among the stars. A geoscience professor turned Afrofuturist artist, Proctor’s unique geometric line art style and “adventure art” concept have captivated imaginations. Her artwork has traveled to extreme environments, from the depths of the Mariana Trench to Earth’s orbit with the Axiom Space Ax3 Mission. As the first African-American woman to pilot a spacecraft, Proctor’s art is infused with the rare perspective of the Overview Effect. Her EarthLight VR Experience, developed at Arizona State University’s Mix Center, transports viewers to a futuristic space station and celebrates the transformative power of cosmic art. Proctor’s work is more than aesthetic; it’s a vehicle for change. Through her art, she advocates for a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive approach to space exploration. From postcards to virtual reality, her creations invite us to see Earth’s fragility and beauty while inspiring a shared vision of humanity’s cosmic future. Dr. Proctor creates powerful, perspective-shifting art for major brands, corporations, charities, governments, and cause-based initiatives. Her unique cosmic viewpoint and expertise in Afrofuturism make her an invaluable consultant for meaningful artistic direction on large-scale projects.

With an undying love for nature and its respective curiosities, there are few things Tyler Thrasher’s brain isn’t obsessing over. Between his pursuits to crystallize the world, opalize everything, and hunt down some of the realm’s most unique plants, his passion for combining art and science every step of the way is his fire and fuel. Chances are, if you catch Tyler at a party, he’ll talk your ear off about exploring caves, growing minerals in his lab, playing Dungeons and Dragons, hybridizing new plants, electronic music, the importance of self-compassion, and just how amazingly beautiful and mysterious this whole wide universe is. Tyler has a wide range of projects under his belt, including but not limited to crystallizing insects, creating some of the world’s first and only opalized insects and flowers, hybridizing plants and creating new cultivars, capturing the natural world through illustration, creating a series of scientific and strange alchemy inspired toys, and a few published books including “The Wisdom of the Furnace,” “Grow a Damn” and his next upcoming book “The Universe in 100 Colors”.

Marlena Myles is a self-taught Native American (Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee) artist located in St Paul, Minnesota. Her art brings modernity to Indigenous history, languages, and oral traditions while using the land as a teacher. Growing up in her traditional Dakota homelands here in the Twin Cities, she enjoys using her artwork to teach Minnesotans of all backgrounds the Indigenous history of this place we call home. Her professional work includes children’s books, augmented reality, murals, fabrics, animations, and has shown her work in fine art galleries such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Museum of Russian Art, Red Cloud Heritage Center, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art to name a few. Her first permanent site-specific augmented reality public art installation, known as the Dakota Spirit Walk, is available on the Revelo AR app. In 2021, she opened her own Dakota publishing company Wíyouŋkihipi (We Are Capable) Productions, to create a platform that educates and honors the culture, language, and history of the Dakota people.

Cheyenne Smith serves as the Creative Community Manager at the Tulsa Artist Fellowship. In this role, Cheyenne is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for artists, facilitating community engagement, and managing creative projects that enrich the cultural landscape of Tulsa. With the team at Tulsa Artist Fellowship, they aim to create initiatives that connect artists with the community, ensuring the arts remain an integral part of Tulsa's identity. Cheyenne is also the founder of Space For Us, an organization committed to making STEAM through astronomy more visible and accessible within BIPOC and underserved communities. As a citizen and aspiring astronomer, Cheyenne brings a unique insight to her work, blending creative aspects with a cosmic perspective.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Space For Us is dedicated to making STEAM resources and careers in space sciences more visible and accessible to underserved communities, particularly minorities and BIPOC individuals of all ages, while also promoting dark sky protection and advocacy. Regardless of background, everyone should be able to explore and contribute to the infinite possibilities of space exploration and astronomy.