Blu Marble
by Sebastian ErraZuriz
Public art installation, exhibition, and launch event.
Blu Marble by Sebastian ErraZuriz is a public art installation displaying images of earth in real-time pulled from a NASA satellite. The night of the unveiling of this artwork also included a show at Richard Taittinger Gallery, along with projection mapping onto the façade of the New Museum and reception party at the Public Hotel.
2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first person walking on the moon. Three years later, as Apollo 17 was on its last lunar mission, the crew took the renowned picture 'Blue Marble' showing the first image of the Earth from space.
The original 'Blue Marble' picture is the most widely reproduced image of the Earth. Sebastian ErraZuriz pays homage to the iconic picture by bringing it to life thanks to a monumental outdoor sculpture that featured a live video stream of the Earth from a NASA satellite in space.
For the Public
The artwork was unveiled to the public at 159 Ludlow in the Lower East Side in early March 2019. That night one could clearly see a partially dark Earth as the sunset speckled with clusters of artificial light and covered in the current weather patterns overhead.
For a moment the streets of this busy section of our city were closed to full allow everyone to gather around. It was a moment of belonging to witness the planet we cohabit standing side by side with strangers of our own city.
Art Exhibition
On the same night of the public opening, a private exhibition was shared with special guests to share the process of Sebastian ErraZuriz and his studio. The exhibition was shown at Richard Taittinger Gallery directly across the street from the installation. With remarkable collaboration and timing, we were able to share the process inside and able to witness the result outside.
Story From Space
NASA astronaut Mike Massimino joined the reception to share his experience witnessing the Earth with his own eyes from space. Listening to his experience provided another layer of human sensitivity to an already profound technical artwork.
Artist Sebastian ErraZuriz with NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino
Another Perspective
A reception party was held atop the PUBLIC Hotel to honor the hard work of ErraZuriz and the teams involved to make his vision a reality. The location offered a view of the sister artwork, a single night projection of the video stream onto the north face of the New Museum. Using the art institution as the canvas itself, this view of Earth extended up Bowery over Manhattan.
Exhibition
New Museum
Richard Taitinger Gallery
Public Hotel
Ludlow St, New York, New York, 2019