click to view site navigation menu

Versioning curated by Brendan George Ko

Parker Kay, Connor Crawford, Michael Abel

September 12, 2014 - October 4, 2014

Essay by Brendan George Ko

September 12- October 4, 2014

Before we first landed on the moon in 1969, a reconnaissance spacecraft named Lunar Orbiter I travelled there in August 1966. Its mission was to take high-resolution images of potential landing spots for the Apollo moon missions to follow. Using 70mm film the small spacecraft automatically exposed for the moon’s surface, developed the film, scanned and faxed it back to Earth – over a distance of 384,400km. This event marked the first time in human history the moon was seen from somewhere other than Earth’s surface.

Hidden within the iconic images taken by the Lunar Orbiter I is an elaborate and advantageous process that shifted the way we see the moon in the sky. Versioning is an exhibition that examines how production processes can create new meaning into an object, image, or icon. Through the examination of three processes, Parker Kay, Connor Crawford, and Michael Abel exemplify shifts in production, and authenticity. Their work explores the impact process and technology can have on the cultural value of an object and icon.