Aerospace Design
Aerospace Design: The Art of Engineering from NASA's Aeronautical Research. August 2, 2003-February 8, 2004
Gallery 227
Above: 1990 Rehabilitation of the Transonic Wind Tunnel, Langley Research Center. Photograph by NASA
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 verview: Aerospace Design: The Art of Engineering from NASA's Aeronautical Research features the architecture and engineering of wind tunnels with approximately 90 artifacts from NASA's collection, including architectural and engineering designs and models for wind tunnels, and designs for conceptual airplanes, past and present. The exhibition commemorates the centennial of powered, controlled flight began by the landmark take off of the Wright brothers on December 17, 1903.
Objects included in the exhibition date back to NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), founded in 1915. NASA itself was created out of that agency at the beginning of the space race in 1958. NASA has a wealth of often unexhibited and unpublished artifacts that not only document technological advances in flight over the past century but are also aesthetically striking. Beyond the historic dimension, the exhibition showcases some of the latest research being done now for aircrafts with 'morphing' wings, self-healing vehicle 'skins' and biologically inspired sensors - elements that NASA hopes will make future air travel accident free, environmentally friendly, and affordable and accessible. In all, the project presents the history of aeronautically engineered forms in relation to architecture and design, much as previous Art Institute exhibitions have analyzed architecture and design for commercial aviation, space travel, and contemporary railroad travel. Visitors are shown another example of how aviation design can be as beautiful as it can be functional.
Credit: This exhibition has been organized by The Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Architecture and the Aerospace Technology Enterprise of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Education programs have been supported by The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund and The Woman's Board of The Art Institute of Chicago. Additional funding has been provided by Mr. and Mrs. David Hilliard.
Curator: John Zukowsky, John H. Bryan Curator of Architecture, Department of Architecture,
the Art Institute.
[The Art Institute of Chicago] [KWSnet Radio Weblog]
12:51:43 PM 
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Taking a quick excursion to Northern California for a few business meetings and a little relaxation. [
