Reaching

(*Get your free 14x19 inch copy through April when you order any other art print.)

I've been waiting for us to go back to the moon, and beyond, for most of my life! Being a child of the 70's meant playing with Star Wars action figures and spaceships. Creating imaginary space battles and lightsaber duels with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, before we knew the whole familial story, was the norm. It meant fully growing-up lost in the thought of, "when will I get to go to space?"

In the early 2000's I had the great opportunity to travel. I only needed to convince students to pay a ton of money to go witness art firsthand. We made it to Italy, France, Greece, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, taking in the masterpieces of each country. Five trips. Over 150 students and parent chaperones over seven years. It was the first time I was able to see, in person, what I'd been studying and teaching for years. It was everything I'd dreamed of, and been reaching for. (*So many thanks to all who participated on those trips!)

I'll say it. It changed my life. I was able to experience history, foreign languages, culture, and the people. We all did. We came back home with an expanded view of the world and a greater love and joy for our country. For me, coming back home was about as exciting as the trip itself. Creature comforts and such. I can imagine these feelings aren't too different for those who travel to space, and its still my belief that I will someday get to experience it myself.

Its both a ridiculous and unnecessary idea, and an opportunity to advance, moving all of us closer to... something. Yes. Let's invest in fixing all of the problems on Earth, but also recognize these far-reaching endeavors have in the past help shape many of the great things we have now. The title of this artwork is Reaching. Its about the struggle. The things we try to accomplish, the innovations, and the creativity. The things that we like to be about. It's also a cautionary image. The astronaut literally extending their hand out to touch gold. Beautiful, and because of this amazing thing we call space, inherently dangerous. God speed to you and the good you are reaching for, be it the masterpieces of art, medical cures, or the far reaches of space.