Art project examines space debris

Fancy having a space waste artist residency?

One has just opened thanks to the National Space Centre (NSC), based outside Midleton, in partnership with Killeagh neighbour Greywood Arts.

The one-month sculptural project examines the debris produced by the acceleration of space technology and is supported by Cork County Council.

“The residency is a unique chance to re-purpose technological components that can’t be recycled and see what emerges creatively from space waste,” explained Jessica Bonenfant, Artistic Director at Greywood.

She added: “This collaboration will give an artist working three-dimensionally the chance to visit the National Space Centre to collect materials and investigate the other-worldly campus environment.”

The NSC is set to share space communications components including circuit boards, assemblies and data subframes with the artist, as well as preserved panels from their recently dismantled 11 metre EU-5B4 satellite ground communications dish.

The selected artist will then have a month in residence at Greywood Arts to develop the work that emerges.

NSC CEO Rory Fitzpatrick said: “This is a pivotal time in space exploration. We’re looking at manned Martian exploration in the near future, while Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson have launched space tourism as a viable industry.

“At the same time, there are more than 125 million pieces of space garbage orbiting our planet. It’s an ideal moment to examine questions around our responsibility to live sustainably not only on earth, but beyond it.”

The international invitation to artists is open until 22 August and the residency will run through November. The project concludes with an exhibition and discussion at the NSC in December to showcase the work created during the residency, and to launch the NSC’s tenth birthday celebrations.

See greywoodarts.org/space-waste.