Here at Allport, we're big fans of pretty much all moon iconography. Show us a midnight blue sky, punctuate with a sliver of moon, and we’re hooked! From dark and moody atmospheric hues, to earthy tones and golden stars, we'll tape any image on our office wall. It’s safe to say we’re quite literally, over the moon about the upcoming holiday seemingly created just for us: International Moon Day!
As the closest celestial body to Earth, the moon is not just something we can see, it is something we feel, often with emotional intensity. Affecting mood and behavior, casting influence across realms of both art and imagination, it is universal and experienced by all. With its duality of light and darkness, the phases remind us of change and renewal, echoing the lunar cycle - ideally complementing our inner, spiritual landscape.
For thousands of years human beings have gazed skyward, pondering the mysteries of the moon. Inspiring myths and art, and serving as a powerful muse for much of humanity, the moon has come to represent so much more than simply a luminous orb on the horizon. It is an enduring symbol of mystery, time, and exploration.
I know I’m not alone when I say, "I can’t think of the moon without acknowledging the other-worldliness of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night." Famous for its swirling, expressive skies, it features a mesmerizing crescent moon that belies an almost spiritual experience when looking at it! Andy Warhol’s Moonwalk, is another favorite of mine, the pop-artist applied his personal aesthetic to the screenprint, conceding the enormity of the historic moon landing, and giving the crew of Apollo 11 their justly deserved (more than) 15 minutes of fame.
Alma Thomas, one of Team Allport's best-loved artists, was so inspired by the images on her television screen, she painted abstractions in hot reds, oranges, and yellows. Blast Off captures the launch and its aerial ascent in bold, vibrant patterns. Encouraging us to embrace peace and harmony through color, Thomas's art thoughtfully reminds us of the moons’ silent influence.
Desert-inspired landscape artist Georgia O’Keefe, often associated with close-up florals, brought her lifelong fascination with natural contrasts into sharp focus with her rural sky paintings. Illustrating her profound connection with the sun and moon, her interplays of light against the desert night, bring a hushed, natural depiction to the sky and its inhabitants. Echoing the poetic correspondence shared with her husband, artist Alfred Stieglitz, (the two exchanged letters reflecting on how they both saw the same moonlit night from different locations - so romantic!) her Pink Moon Over Water's ethereal, quiet energy, radiates a stillness and beauty in its radiant, astral presence.
In the Allport realm, my two favorite moonscape artists are Father Arthur Poulin and Karen Wysopal. Both clearly moon-lovers like me; one strives to reflect "Creations' stunning, sacred beauty," while the other is "always infusing her nature inspired paintings with vivid hues." I relish how their artwork evokes the haunting essence of our cosmic neighbor.
Lunar Art that Craters to Our Tastes
On July 20th, International Moon Day commemorates the historic mission in 1969, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first human beings to land and walk on the moon’s surface. With 650 million people watching, it shaped our collective idea of what space exploration could accomplish and further increased our enchantment with the universe.
Now, we can orbit the moon (unbelievably!) in just a few days. New generations can truly reach for the stars, honoring humanity’s enduring captivation with the moon, basking in our country’s achievements in space expeditions, and continuing to ignite new dreams for the future. I can hardly wait to see what new masterpieces are dreamed up next!
Catch you on the dark side,
- Robin
Interested in learning more about the moon? Support a Space Museum or Observatory in your area! These are a few of our favorites: