NASA’s Aerospace Exhibit Takes Flight
To commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight, NASA sponsored an exhibit entitled Aerospace Design: The Art of Engineering from NASA’s Aeronautical Research at the Art Institute of Chicago. This exhibit presents the history of aeronautically engineered forms as they relate to architecture and design, and features approximately 90 artifacts from NASA’s collection, including designs and models for wind tunnels and conceptual airplanes. Chicago Scenic was once again hired to help bring the project to life.

Designers Jeannie Gang and Yu-ting Chen of Studio Gang Architects came up with a design concept that would give the feeling of motion within the gallery instead of a more traditional exhibit. To accomplish this Chicago Scenic manufactured over 60 stacked curvilinear acrylic vitrines of varying sizes to house the artifacts and then mounted them to the walls according to Studio Gang’s design. The vitrines and artifacts were attached to the curved inside walls simulating a ripple effect as you walk through the gallery. Chicago Scenic also provided shelving, curved platforms, and oversized graphics for the exhibit.

Project Manager Gary Heitz worked with the Art Institute’s Curator John Zukoswky on the project as well as the museum’s Registrar, Darryl Green. Together they worked with Tony Springer and Tom Dixon of NASA who provided all of the artifacts and mounting plates for the show. CSSI’s Dave Duwell served as the job lead on the project and was assisted by Nick Levinsky onsite.

The exhibit, located in Kisho Kurokawa Architectural Gallery, runs until February 8, 2004, at which time it will be remounted at the AIA Octagon Museum in Washington, DC.

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