News Article

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at FSW presents The Moon Museum (1969): Apollo XII’s Secret Art Mission

Aug 15, 2014

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) is exhibiting the first-ever “Space Art” project, a work that has been essentially “top secret” since 1969.

Art and outer space enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see The Moon Museum – a collection of drawings produced by a group of the most significant artists of the last century and surreptitiously sent to the Moon – at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery from August 22 – September 27.

“FSW is not only proud that the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery was renamed in the artist’s honor a decade ago, but we’re honored to have the opportunity to host this culturally and historically significant Rauschenberg-related project,” said Dr. Jeff Allbritten, President of Florida SouthWestern State College. “We hope that students, alumni, and members of the community will all take the time to see and find inspiration in this fascinating exhibition.”

This exhibition marks the opening of the upcoming season of Arts @ FSW. The Moon Museum (1969): Apollo XII’s Secret Art Mission is an experiment led by artists Bob Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, and John Chamberlain, who have since passed away, and New York City artists Forrest Myers, David Novros, and Claes Oldenburg.

Each of the six artists contributed drawings that were later transferred onto a handful of identical ceramic wafers using cutting-edge technology from the late 1960s. A paper-thin and postage stamp-sized copy of The Moon Museum was then secretly attached to the Apollo XII lunar landing LEM 6 and has resided on the surface of the Moon for the last 45 years.

Forrest Myers, a sculptor and friend of Rauschenberg’s, was inspired to propose The Moon Museum project as part of Experiments in Art & Technology (E.A.T.), following the success of Apollo XI’s historic moon landing. He decided to use his own work alongside pieces from artists that he admired.

“Wanting nothing more than to put something soulful up where typically NASA had left detritus and hardware behind, nearly a half century later, The Moon Museum is still a compelling art object and continues to resonate profoundly in the imagination,” according to Jade Dellinger, Director of Exhibitions & Collections at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at FSW.

The exhibition will open on August 22 with a 6-8 p.m. reception at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery on FSW’s Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus. The Moon Museum was previously shown at the National Gallery of Art in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia, an exhibition co-organized by The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, the U.S. Department of State, and National Geographic Magazine.

Not only will visitors get a rare glimpse of an original Moon Museum ceramic tile, but vintage NASA press photographs, mission-related artifacts, and real film shot by Apollo XII astronauts will also be on display.

This fall’s gallery programming will focus heavily on the legacy and impact of Bob Rauschenberg, including the next exhibition Rauschenberg: China/America Mix from Oct. 22 to Dec. 17.  

For more information about the gallery or upcoming events, visit www.RauschenbergGallery.com or call (239) 489-9313.

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at FSW presents The Moon Museum (1969): Apollo XII’s Secret Art Mission

• Exhibition Dates: August 22 – September 27

• Opening and Reception: August 22 from 6 – 8 P.M.

• Gallery Hours: Monday to Friday 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. and Saturday 11 A.M. – 3 P.M. Closed Sundays and Holidays.

About The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery:

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery was founded as The Gallery of Fine Art in 1979 on the Lee County campus of Florida SouthWestern State College/FSW (then Edison Community College).  On June 4, 2004 the Gallery of Fine Art was renamed the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, to honor and commemorate our long time association and friendship with the artist.  Over more than three decades until his death, the Gallery worked closely with Rauschenberg to present world premiere exhibitions including multiple installations of the ¼ Mile or Two Furlong Piece.  The artist insisted on naming the space the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery (versus the “Robert Rauschenberg Gallery”) as it was consistent with the intimate, informal relationship he maintained with both our local Southwest Florida community and FSW.

About FSW:

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: May 15, 2020