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  • 3 Jul 2025 14:58 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Greetings space artists of the IAAA!

    The IAAA Steam Team is proud to announce Kara Szathmary as The IAAA Artist of the Quarter: June 2025 and feature his astronomical artwork, Gathering Evidence: ArtPhysics of SGR A* as Space Art for the Art of the Quarter: June 2025!

    ARTIST BIO

    Genesis…the moment of creation has been a lifelong fascination sparking endless questions about the universe. Curiosity led me to explore space art, astronomy, physics, and mathematics.

    As a child in Welland, Ontario, I wandered the streets with my two sisters and ended up at the library where I got “lost in the stacks.” Mesmerizing images of galaxies and nebulae ignited my lifelong passion.

    Equally expressive in art, I used drawing to solve problems visually in physics and mathematics courses. I received an art award during my 8th year of school. Passion led me to graduate studies in astrophysics and condensed matter at the University of Western Ontario in 1970, where I discovered seven new white dwarfs as a result of my all-night studies using their 48-inch Richey-Cretien telescope. I completed my thesis on Low Dispersion Spectroscopy of White Dwarf Suspects.

    Nature remained my artistic muse. Inspired by van Gogh, Tom Thomson, and the Group of Seven, I produced artworks the genre of ArtPhysics while teaching physics, mathematics, and computer science. I also exhibited paintings in Montreal and the Eastern Townships.

    In 1983, my solo exhibition in Toronto, The Interwoven Fabric of Astronomy and Art, caught the attention of Jon Lomberg, Carl Sagan’s principal artist for Cosmos. He invited me to join the IAAA, launching my journey into space art.

    Through the decades in the IAAA, I have attended 17 workshops, including Iceland, Hawaii and the US Southwest, Nicaragua, Star City and Moscow in USSR. In 2005, I was invited to give a presentation about Space Art during the “Impact of Space Activities upon Society” in Budapest, Hungary, at the National Academy of Sciences attended by worldwide audience.

    In the IAAA, I have served three terms as President; a dozen years as CFO-Treasurer, and now the Director of Fellows.

    Kara Szathmary MSc FIAAA

    Social Media:

    1) facebook.com/kara.szathmary
    2) instagram.com/kbaszk
    3) linkedin.com/in/kara-szathmary-0b89358/ 


    IAAA Artist of the Quarter June 2025 - Kara Szathmary


    Gathering Evidence: ArtPhysics of SGR A* as Space Art. Medium: Birch board 24 inches by 24 inches on the diamond point with horizontal and vertical spans of ~34 inches each. The birch board panel is prepared with three coats of gesso with Acrylic paint medium for the color renditions.

    ARTWORK DESCRIPTION

    After I finished my thesis, "Low Dispersion Spectroscopy of White Dwarf Stars," with the discovery of seven new white dwarf stars and received my MSc in Astrophysics in 1972, I declined the invitation to begin my Ph.D. at Queens University to study a galactic X-ray source in the constellation Cygnus. Eventually, it became the first such source widely accepted as a black hole.

    Instead, I moved to Quebec to pursue my creative energies as a painter of ArtPhysics. In order to do so, I taught advanced mathematics to continue my studies in cosmology and particle physics.

    In March 2005, I was invited to give a presentation at the Hungarian National Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, home of my maternal family.

    Artists have been at the forefront of using their visual talents in the IAAA for over four decades. The International Association of Astronomical Artists has brought together the world’s foremost space artists on a regular basis to provide direction and stimulation for the membership: to share the beauty and imagination of space art with each other and with the public.

    Today with rocket launches to the International Space Station, and space exploration entering a new vast frontier studded with burning stars and swirling galaxies to gather sensitive images. 

    Vast amounts of data are being returned to Earth regarding what we can expect to be “out there” in the space environment.

    On May 12, 2022, astronomers shared the first images of the super massive black hole at the Galactic Center of our own Milky Way galaxy. Sagittarius A*, as viewed from Earth, is located near the border of the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius.

    As a prolific space artist myself that same month I recalled the hours I sat at my own computer in my study, imagining evidence that visually transported me toward new and exciting worlds of the cosmos—“Gathering Evidence: ArtPhysics of SGR-A* ” is a painting that captures the moments when all of the hours of research become the impetus for this work of art.

    ATTENTION IAAA'S SOCIAL MEDIA MODERATORS

    The IAAA STEAM Team requires your cooperation to share these posters on your respective social media before. Follow the link below for full resolution posters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dVTYR90MUDfdk7n9dukXp0a1W3fU_qS1?usp=sharing

    • Please post the posters separately according to 2 categories:
    1. Poster for IAAA Artist of the Quarter.
    2. Posters for IAAA Art of the Quarter.
    • Use the descriptions as captions for each post.
    • As for X (Twitter) and Threads, since there is a limitation with the amount of words that can be included in each post, make a thread.

    We would like to deliver our heartfelt thanks to Kara for sharing his journey as an inspirational space artist!

    Thank you so much!

    Nurul Syahirah Binti Nazarudin
    Assistant Director of STEAM Team 

  • 20 Jan 2025 19:08 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    30 Space Artists
    Women who love Space and Space Art

    From 9 countries
    Brazil, Canada, England, Italy, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, United Arab Emirates and the United States

    Representing the IAAA
    International Association of Astronomical Artists - iaaa.org

    More information

  • 24 Oct 2024 14:49 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Welcome All to the ISEI site for IAAA Members only. ISEI is an IAAA collaborative project still in progress, and is not yet a public internet site.

    Its focus is to produce and provide teaching material for the development of STEAM students studying Space Sciences & the Arts. IAAA artists’ involvement will determine the success of this teaching platform. Contributing to the IAAA's collective body of knowledge and experience, artists are free to lean into their own areas of interests and strengths.

    Developed with collaboration and transparency, ISEI is open for comments, suggestions, additions, ideas and our community focus, before it becomes a public resource for STEAM Educators.

    For discussion and news see - Forums > Member Projects


  • 10 Oct 2024 11:40 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Making Space is an interdisciplinary workshop for artists, scientists, and educators about space and society, where we use art to explore scientific concepts and humanity’s relationship to the solar system. This event is about connecting with the cosmos, blending knowledge and art, and the role artists can play in space exploration, and features a combination of talks, discussion, and art-making. In addition to below, we’ll also hear from Dr. Nikki Seymour (geoscientist, Occidental College), Dr. Libby Ives (geoscientist at NASA JPL), and Lauren Denson (JPL engineer, Chiricahua Apache). This event is also a special collaboration with the NASA Solar System Treks program! Come join us!

    https://makingspace.psi.edu/

  • 5 Oct 2024 01:27 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Dear All,

    We are thrilled to celebrate World Space Week 2024 with the IAAA STEAM Educational Initiative (ISEI), led by Susan Bibbs, Project Curator. This global celebration perfectly aligns with the ISEI's mission to merge art with space science, inspiring creativity and critical thinking in students aged 5 to 18.

    The initiative introduces space exploration through artistic expression, making complex STEM topics more accessible and exciting for young learners. Join us in celebrating World Space Week by learning more about this project and its impact.

    Watch the presentation here.

    Happy World Space Week 2024 !!

    Regards,

    Rayan


  • 1 Oct 2024 13:57 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Greetings space artists of the IAAA!

    The IAAA Steam Team is proud to announce Betsy Carroll Smith as The Space Artist of the Quarter: September 2024 and feature her astronomical artwork, "Ever Reaching" for the Art of the Quarter: September 2024!

    Don't forget to click on the link to check out her posters.

    SPACE ARTIST OF THE QUARTER SEPTEMBER 2024 - BETSY CARROLL SMITH

    ARTIST BIO

    Full Resolution Poster: Space Artist of the Quarter September 2024

    Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1952 Betsy grew up in an artistic family who encouraged her to follow her dreams wherever they might lead. Although artistically inclined, she developed an early fascination with aviation and space, learning to fly at age sixteen. She attended Parks College of Aeronautics and Purdue University and held various flying jobs throughout her career, from flight instructor to airline pilot. She retired from flying in 2009 as a Boeing 757/767 captain with UPS.

    During her flying career, Betsy always found time for art. Through her membership in the International Association of Astronomical Artists, she was able to combine her interests in art and space while participating in many space art workshops and art exhibitions in the US and abroad. In 1995 Betsy was one of twenty artists from around the world whose paintings were sent to the Russian space station MIR for the first art exhibit in earth orbit. Her painting entitled "When Dreams Are Born" was selected by the crew to remain on MIR. In 2005 Betsy participated in an art project at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; she created a series of paintings inspired by the science being explored there.

    Along with space art, Betsy especially enjoys painting watercolor landscapes and wildlife. She volunteers at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science where she has the opportunity to work with raptors in the education programs. She currently resides in New Hampshire with her husband Marc, a writer-poet and retired English professor who shares her love of nature and the arts.

    SPACE ART OF THE QUARTER SEPTEMBER 2024 - EVER REACHING BY BETSY CARROLL SMITH

    ARTWORK DESCRIPTION

    Full Resolution Poster 1 : Art of the Quarter September 2024

    The painting is titled "Ever Reaching", 30" x 40" acrylic on canvas. It celebrates humanity's efforts to reach above the earth to the stars, from Icarus to the space station and beyond. The painting incorporates the Golden Spiral, nature's iconic image of limitless creativity that appears in sea shells as well as galaxies.

    ATTENTION IAAA'S SOCIAL MEDIA MODERATORS

    The IAAA STEAM Team required your cooperation to share these posters on your respective social media before. Follow the links for full resolution posters.

    • Please post the posters separately according to 2 categories:
      1. 1 Poster for Space Artist of the Quarter.
      2. 2 Posters for Space Art of the Quarter.
    • Use the descriptions as captions for each post.
    • As for X (Twitter), since there is a limitation with the amount of words that can be included in each post, make a thread.

    We would like to deliver our heartfelt thanks to Betsy for sharing her journey as an inspiring space artist!

    Thank you so much!

    Nurul Syahirah Binti Nazarudin
    Assistant Director of STEAM Team

  • 24 Sep 2024 14:17 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    Hello Members,

    I am delighted to announce to you all that our wonderful organisation now has a brand new website.

    Below I have set out the highlights, and beneath that the acknowledgments. This means this is a lengthy email, but it is important that you read it down to the end.

    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW IAAA WEBSITE

    • The IAAA website (https://iaaa.wildapricot.org/) has been rebuilt from the ground up with a new look incorporating the latest web technologies. Like the earlier site, the new IAAA website includes:
    • An IAAA member roster providing an easy way for members to reach out and connect with other members;
    • Tools for members to create personal art galleries, aka photo albums; members may create multiple galleries which can be shared with other members and the public;
    • Resources including past issues of the IAAA's official magazine Pulsar and chronicles of past IAAA activities and events.

    New features include:

    • The website automatically adjusts its formatting to maximize accessibility whether you're browsing from a computer, mobile device, or big screen TV;
    • Integrated members-only forums, replacing the current—and legacy—IAAA listserv.

    FAREWELL LISTSERVE

    This coming November 1, the beloved, and maybe not-so-beloved, IAAA listserv will be retired permanently to the nearest, non-returnable gravitational well. Until then, both the listserv and new forums will be available concurrently.

    HOW DO I LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT?

    This week emails will be sent to members with instructions on how to log in and reconnect to existing accounts.

    BUILT WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE

    The new IAAA website is living document with room for growth. In the years to come it will undergo further development as it strives to meet the needs of the IAAA and its members. Note that in its current form the site has some rough edges, and there are some incomplete sections including IAAA History; these will be addressed in the days and weeks to come.

    TECHNICAL NOTES

    • The URL for the new IAAA website is https://iaaa.wildapricot.org/ and will remain such until this coming November 1 when it will revert to the traditional IAAA domain, https://iaaa.org/. After November 1, both URLs will automatically point to iaaa.org.
    • Wild Apricot is the US/Canadian web host providing the platform and tools essential to building and operating the new website.

    The research and development has taken both time and effort from so many different members, both on and off the previous and current Board. I am so proud of each and every one of them that I feel it requires official recognition and thanks.

    Starting with IAAA member E. Lee Wilson, Jr. for introducing the IAAA to Wild Apricot. Kudos also goes to the IAAA Board members who started this journey way back in the term of the previous Board. Aldo Spadoni, as the then President, started off the search for a suitable replacement when it became obvious that the old website could no longer function properly because of repeated malware attacks.

    My special thanks to Danielle Baker for continuous repairs to the old website, enabling it to hobble along whilst the search, research, and development of the new website evolved.

    Extra special thanks goes to Walter Myers and Kara Szathmáry who both did all of the hands on research and development of the new website.

    Thanks also to Nick Stevens, who acted as a consultant; to Jon Ramer, who rounded up legacy content including past issues of Pulsar; to Aldo Spadoni, who provided the member space art; and finally to the members of the current Board who acted as beta testers.

    This is what the IAAA community is all about - enabling each other in order to achieve the successful start and completion of a project. We rely on volunteers. Every member here has a skill that can be utilised for the benefit of everyone else and no volunteer post is a life-long commitment. The next time a call for volunteers goes out please give it some serious consideration.

    Jackie Burns
    IAAA President
    (Chief Cat Herder)


  • 26 Jul 2024 18:38 | Walter B. Myers (Administrator)

    This Friday evening, 7/26, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be performing Amanda's, The Moons Symphonic Suite, at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.

    https://www.ravinia.org/Online/default.asp?BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Apermalink=BreakingBarriers_Schedule&BOparam%3A%3AWScontent%3A%3AloadArticle%3A%3Acontext_id=#day1#day1

"Moonbase" by Mark Maxwell

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