(Re)naming the Moon - A moon crater drawing workshop
Learn how to sketch craters on the Moon! Artist Bettina Forget will lead a moon crater drawing workshop at the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, coinciding with International Observe the Moon Day on Saturday, October 21.
Of 1,578 catalogued and named craters on the moon, only 32 are named after women. Situated within a discussion of the importance of recognizing women’s contributions to science, Bettina will share observational techniques leading to drawings of lunar craters and invite participants to rename as yet unnamed Moon craters after female scientists.
These workshops are free and open to the public, although registration is required as space is limited. Materials will be provided. No drawing experience is required.
About the artist:
Bettina is the Director of the SETI Institute’s Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program. In this capacity, she facilitates the collaboration between artists and SETI researchers, foregrounds art-science research practice, and creates opportunities to disseminate the resulting art projects to a wider audience. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Art Education at Concordia University, Canada. Her research examines the recontextualization of art and science, and how transdisciplinary education may disrupt gender stereotypes. Bettina’s creative work focuses on space sciences, inspired by her avid engagement with amateur astronomy. She has exhibited her artwork in the USA, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Russia, Singapore, and Nicaragua. Born in Germany, Bettina has studied at Central St-Martins School of Art in London, England and at Curtin University in Perth, Australia and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore.
Bettina’s work is featured in The Life Cycle of Celestial Objects Pts 1 & 2, on view at at McIntosh Gallery until December 9, 2023.
About the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory:
The Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, located at Western University, was inaugurated on October 25, 1940 and has since been the hub for astronomical outreach activities for the greater London community. The Cronyn team organizes public and private events for stargazing (weather permitting) through a flagship 10 inch refractor and other telescopes as well as delivers presentations and demonstrations about astronomical topics of interest.