Unfolding The Universe With Alyssa Pagan And Joseph Depasqual Of Stsci

Join us for a presentation by Alyssa Pagan and Joseph DePasquale of the Space Telescope Institute on processing the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope! Joseph DePasquale, Senior Science Visuals Developer: Joe DePasquale is the senior science visuals developer in the Office of Public Outreach at the Space Telescope Science Institute here in Baltimore. Joe’s work requires a unique blend of science and art to bring data from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to life in high quality, colorful views of the cosmos. Prior to joining STScI in 2017, Joe was the Science Imager for NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory where he worked for 16 years following his undergraduate training in Astronomy & Astrophysics at Villanova University. Joe has an extensive background in both astronomy, art, and photography giving him a unique skill set well suited to the task of bringing raw observatory data to life in richly detailed imagery. Alyssa Pagan, Science Visuals Developer: Alyssa Pagan is a Science Visuals Developer who works in the Office of Public Outreach within the Space Telescope Science Institute. Using her background in Art and Science, she works closely with astronomers to create color images of space that are intended both to inform and showcase the beauty of our Universe. --- After the talk you can enjoy the exhibition "Unfolding the Universe: First Light" a solo exhibition by Ashley Zelinskie in coordination with the James Webb Space Telescope team. About "Unfolding the Universe: First Light": ONX Studio in partnership with The Onassis Foundation, NEW INC, and Mozilla Hubs, is pleased to present “Unfolding the Universe: First Light.” This is a solo exhibition of work by conceptual artist Ashley Zelinskie, curated by Maggie Masetti in cooperation with the James Webb Space Telescope team of scientists and engineers. Vallejo Gantner, ONX’s Director of Creative Partnerships said, “ONX is honored to host Ashley’s sculptural and immersive video works, which come to us after her years in cooperation with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team. ONX is a studio searching out and exploring new forms of artistic expression, finding inspiration from the unknown. As a product of the most exciting leap forward in our capacity to understand the universe in decades, this exhibition is a perfect expression of that quest.” The exhibition features Zelinskie’s first VR artwork “Unfolding the Universe: A NASA Webb VR Experience” which includes animated sculpture and interactive portraiture of Webb team members. This work was created to commemorate the launch of Webb in December 2021 and has since been updated to include new elements reflecting the telescope’s “First Images” data released on July 12th. “Unfolding the Universe: First Light” will also feature sculpture and installation inspired by Webb’s first images and created with the guidance of expert scientists in the corresponding fields. The work will reflect everything from exoplanet spectroscopy and infrared image processing to Webb’s signature six-pointed stars. Ashley Zelinskie said, “The output of the Webb telescope is already awe-inspiring. It’s a huge artistic challenge to make beautiful work out of photos and data that are already beautiful in their own right. To me, the work must add to, and try to transcend, already extraordinary scientific work, inviting a viewer to tap into something universal in both a scientific and artistic sense.” Zelinskie has been working with NASA for seven years on various projects and artworks, including works for the ongoing Osiris-Rex Mission and a collaboration with retired astronaut Mike Massimino on his Hubble mission. Her work with the James Webb Space Telescope team has led to artworks shown at the NASA visitor centers and internationally at art galleries. “To have artists translate science and technology into something people can connect with is so important,” said Curator Maggie Masetti. “As a science communicator for the James Webb Space Telescope, it’s my job to share the wonder of what we are building and learning with the public. Art can make math, science, and technology accessible, and Ashley’s work both interprets technical concepts and incorporates elements of the science into the art itself. “Exploration,” a piece created by Zelinskie for the JWST Art + Science exhibit at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in 2017—and now coming to ONX—used scans of the arms of scientists (as well as her own) reaching for the cosmos, all delicately rendered in the equations that describe relativity and telescopes. Zelinskie’s understanding and passion for science, along with her traditional and hi-tech skills, put her in a unique position to make such art. This has led to collaborations with other institutes such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and a growing reputation as a ‘scientific translator,’ able to convey scientific concepts not only accurately but beautifully. Amber Straughn, astrophysicist and Deputy Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope said,"People sometimes think of art and science as separate endeavors, but I think they’re intricately related – often, one informs and inspires the other. It’s a beautiful interplay in both realms." Holograms on display at “Unfolding the Universe: First Light” have been generously made possible by Looking Glass's innovative 3D holographic display technology. About Ashley Zelinskie: Ashley Zelinskie is Brooklyn-based conceptual artist utilizing a post-New Media approach, wherein the media employed are merely vehicles in service of underlying concepts, she is attempting the process of translating our vast history into an eternal and universal language, while focusing a lens on our place as a small part of a larger whole. Her works span a variety of media, from large- and small-scale sculpture to canvas and print works, each created using cutting edge technology such as 3D printing, computer-guided laser cutting, and satellite plating technology. Her work focuses on visualizing data in abstract forms and finding new and interesting ways to describe complex ideas. Ashley’s work has been featured in Vice, Brooklyn Magazine, The New York Times, and Hyperallergic. Her work forms part of the permanent collection of the US Department of State Art in Embassies Program, has been exhibited at Sotheby’s New York and most recently the ArtScience Museum in Singapore. Ashley is a former resident of New Inc.—the New Museum’s Art and Technology Incubator—and the Shapeways x Museum of Art and Design’s “Out of Hand” exhibition residency. She is the director of The Active Space studios and gallery in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a founding member of the Lady Tech Guild—a collective supporting women in STEAM—and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. About ONX Studio: ONX is both an extension of Onassis Athens’ Digital and Innovation Program and a structure that supports New York and the international digital and artistic ecosystem. ONX exists as a hybrid production and exhibition space for XR artists—artists working to extend reality, not just in extended reality. ONX acts as a hub within a dynamic global ecosystem of new practices and ideas—supporting the development, execution and mobility of new work in the digital arena. In particular, ONX acts as an active bridge between NYC and Athens in the area of digital and XR practice. ONX focuses on supporting the work of artists, and their trajectories—with production support, presentation opportunity, and promotion in NYC and globally. --- “Unfolding the Universe: First Light” ONX Studio, Gallery Level, Olympic Tower, 645 5th Ave, NY, NY. Oct 6-24, admission free. Studio Hours 12-6pm daily (closed on Mondays). More Info below.