Donald Bendel Impressions of Space art exhibit and Klaus Brasch program about life in the Solar System highlight November 4 Flagstaff Night at Lowell Observatory
October 26, 2009 – 5:45 pmLowell Observatory is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new art exhibit, Impressions of Space, by Flagstaff ceramic artist Donald Bendel. Mr. Bendel was a painter until 1960, when he began teaching high school in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. While teaching, he took an evening pottery class at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and became fascinated with this medium. He began teaching at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1970, and today is Regents Professor Emeritus at the university.
Mr. Bendel’s Impressions of Space exhibit is based on his feelings and interpretations of Hubble Space Telescope images of the Universe. He incorporated these interpretations into a wall hanging format he originally used in a 1969 art series based on car hubcaps. The result is an exhibit of seven pieces, including one entitled Percival Lowell Romancing the Dream.
The opening of Impressions of Space is part of our monthly Flagstaff Night at Lowell Observatory series, which in November is on the evening of the 4th. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a reception. At 6:00 p.m. Observatory Associate Director and astronomer Jeff Hall will give a brief update about current research at Lowell. Mr. Bendel will then give a presentation introducing his art, followed by the unveiling of Impressions of Space in the Rotunda Museum. At 7:00 p.m. docent and retired scientist/lecturer Klaus Brasch will give an indoor presentation, Life in the Solar System. Weather permitting, we will also open telescopes for viewing of celestial objects such as Jupiter.
Reservations for these exciting events are not needed. Visitors from everywhere are encouraged to attend, and all Flagstaff participants are admitted for half price. As with all our events, members of the Friends of Lowell Observatory are admitted for free.