Man in Space, (sculpture).

Man in Space, (sculpture).

Nelson, Jud, 1943-, sculptor.

Johnson Atelier, founder.

Man in Space, (sculpture).

Commissioned April 1982. 1982-1984. Dedicated Sept. 7, 1984.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze and aluminum, with patina and partially painted; Base: bronze with patina.

Sculpture: approx. 108 x 60 x 72 in.; Base: approx. 66 x 81 x 117 in. (4 tons).

Nelson 1982-84 (On plaque on rear of base:) Because of President Gerald R./Ford's consistent interest and/support of the space program/as a Member of Congress and/as President, he requested that/a sculpture commemorating/the U.S. space program be/placed on Museum grounds./Judson Nelson of New York/City was selected to complete/the first major sculpture in the/history of art to depict weight-/lessness, and his work shows an/astronaut leaving a spaceship./Dedicated: September 7, 1984. signed

Full-length bronze figure of a fully-suited astronaut is depicted emerging from his spacecraft. He is tethered to the craft by a cord as he floats weightlessly. The cord is attached to an aluminum life support system at the figure's waist. The tubes from the support system to the figure's chest are blue and red. The NASA insignia on the upper proper right side of his chest and the American flag on his proper left arm are rendered in red, white and blue. The spacecraft which serves as the base is only partially seen, from the point where the figure exits. It is cylindric in shape and installed at an angle into the ground. The spacecraft has a deep green and brown patina.

History -- United States -- Space Program

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Transportation -- Astronaut

Dress -- Uniform -- Astronaut Uniform

Architecture -- Vehicle -- Spacecraft

Outdoor Sculpture -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids

Administered by National Archives and Records Administration, 7th & Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Gerald R. Ford Museum, 303 Pearl Street N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504

Commissioned by the Gerald R. Ford Foundation at the request of President Ford to reflect his longtime interest in the space program. IAS files contain a brochure from the Gerald Ford Museum which lists members of the Ford Sculpture Selection Committee and donors to the project.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Michigan survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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