Consolidating The Peregrine Collection and The Nova Collection
THE LUNAR CODEX
The Lunar Codex is the first significant placement of art on the Moon in 50 years. It is a unified, documented collection of art and more, placed on the lunar surface through a series of landings by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) partners under its Artemis program. While focused on art, the Lunar Codex also includes a substantial collection of books, stories, poetry, essays, and more.
"The Peregrine Collection" is our payload associated with Astrobotic's Peregrine mission, landing in Lacus Mortis on the Moon.
"The Nova Collection" is our payload associated with the Intuitive Machines Nova-C mission, landing in Vallis Schrasöteri, in the area of Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon.
The Lunar Codex is the most expansive, international, and diverse collection of contemporary art launched to the Moon. Significantly, it is the first project to launch the works of women artists to the lunar surface.
The Codex represent artwork from the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the U.K., Australia, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and more - firsts on the Moon for many of these countries.
As Dr. Samuel Peralta, payload coordinator and curator, notes: "Our hope is that future travelers who find these time capsules will discover some of the richness of our world today...
"It speaks to the idea that, despite wars and pandemics and climate upheaval, humankind found time to dream, time to create art.”
Press release
1500 CREATIVE ARTISTS (PLUS ONE A.I.)
ART, BOOKS, and MORE
Time capsules to be archived on the Moon
via the Peregrine and Nova-C Lunar Landers
Launching 4th quarter 2021
on ULA Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX Falcon 9
Reading Hall B
A MANIFEST FOR THE MOON
The Lunar Codex uses digital and analog technology to preserve art, books, music, and more, enclosed in time capsules and launched to the Moon. It is a message-in-a-bottle to the future.
Curatorial Notes
Readings showcases selected works from "The Peregrine Collection" and "The Nova Collecton" of the Codex, highlighting short-form works by poets and writers.
This is a selection of touchstone poems, some of my own favorites, bookmarks of discovery, favorite works composed by other writers, and poems I wish I'd written.
See:
AWAKENING ON WINTER MORNINGS
Translated by
Leanne Ogasawara (2010)
IM1
Original poem from Chieko's Sky by
Kotaro Takamura (1912)
Papercut illustration by
Chieko Takamura
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Landing near Apollo 12 site, in the Ocean of storms