The has the Star Trek:TNG “I’m visiting my friends on Earth and this is a and this is a genuine futuretique” aesthetic all over it. It’s like the McMansion of space lamps though:
- No less than 3 bases to sit on
- 8 feet, not all on the same level, for the bases to sit on
- Mismatched color on switches and dials
- Multiple shades of black, brass, etc. (I am not convinced it is a photographic artifact.)
- Drawn in fine details, tick marks, that are flat
That all written, it is a beautiful art piece, commissioned by NASA nonetheless. I don’t have to like the art, but the fact that we, through government programs, are still commissioning and supporting artists and art is fantastic. The planetary and lunar details are neat, and are what make it interesting to me. That along with the artists narrative as to how they were attempting to include several ideas at the same time.
I’m betting most of my observations are due to cost and finding materials. The cost of plating everything to a matching metal would be ridiculously expensive and ultimately may speed decay. Though the 3 bases and the off the shelf switch that doesn’t have a custom brass cover (compared to the two next to it) bothers me for some reason.
I’m going back to quarterbacking from and armchair now. Perhaps it will grow on me as I look for an armchair.
