Space Stations and Satellites 1985

John Conrad Berkey made this painting of “Space Stations and Satellites” with an airbrush, wow. Look at the crisp blues of the earth and sky, those tiny stars sprayed so gently, like a wish. It’s got this futuristic, almost science fiction feel to it, reminiscent of some of the astronomical paintings of the mid-20th century. I can imagine Berkey in his studio, totally absorbed, layering those delicate colors to achieve that sense of depth and space. The gold satellite dominates the frame. See how the sun reflects off the gold panels, creating highlights and shadows that give it a sense of volume? Painting a space station is a funny thing when you think about it. It requires so much precision, so much thought, and calculation. At the same time, there’s something dreamlike about it, something that goes beyond mere representation, suggesting there is no limit to how far our imagination can go. Just like painting itself.