…has died.
For me his most impressive work remains the mural at the Air and Space Museum. But it was just a scratch at the surface of his work. He was a leading chronicler of the first space age. May the new one bring forth new artists as great as it will be, as he was to it.
Sad day. He was second to no one except maybe Bonestell.
Wow. I can’t believe he’s finally gone. What do you say to those who play eveonline.com? Do they even know that it’s the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth this Monday? I just heard it on WFMT. I’ve got to pick up one of McCall’s books. Did he have anything interesting to say, verbally? Have you read Don Davis’ manifesto : http://www.donaldedavis.com/2007NEW/SPACEMIGRATION.html
He said this, quoted in the CollectSpace story linked at NASAWatch –
“I think when we finally are living in space, as people will be doing soon, we’ll recognize a whole new freedom and ease of life,” McCall was quoted as saying. “These space habitats will be more beautiful because we will plan and condition that beauty to suit our needs. I see a future that is very bright.”
Yes, have read Don’s essay, and he might be a better comparison to Bonestell, but McCall was a great man and great artist, sad to lose him.
Damn.
His visions are practically the standard we hold our reality in space to.
I feel like those of us building the real stuff let him down.
I can agree that McCall was a gifted artist, but I tired of his cartoonish use of colors- the nebulae and stars in the skies of his images became trite. The recent stunning images from Cassini are all the more compelling for NOT being fantastical…
> The recent stunning images from Cassini are all the
> more compelling for NOT being fantastical…
Thats a plus – but also theirs no people there, nor inspiration we will be. Under current situations thats more realistic – but not inspiring.
Very sad news. I love his work. Some more info on his passing.
Link:
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001126.html
My favorite of his works has always been the mural at the old visitors’ center at JSC. It is fantastically inspiring.