Dark Skies

Dark Skies 18x24 Acrylic on Canvas Available for Purchase Please contact luciebause@gmail.com for more info:

I created a series of Dark Sky paintings for an exhibition titled “Nostalgia” in 2024. At the time I was first learning about the term “noctalgia” and contemplating this theme, I found myself driving south on Hwy 22 to the Leighton Art Centre to drop off a painting. I love that drive through the foothills and once again I passed the sign for the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory. Every time I drive by, I wonder about that place and what goes on there...? One day or night, I would like to visit this place. In the meantime, I looked it up online and learned a bit more about it. It is part of the University of Calgary where teaching and research connects with Public Education and Community Engagement. The RAO is a working science facility and is open to the public during programs or events, and is part of global efforts to protect dark skies. It is the Southern Alberta representative for the International dark Skies Association. It is located in Dark Sky Country of the foothills, forming a dark sky corridor on the western section of Calgary that includes the Weaselhead Conservation Society, Leighton Arts Centre and Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, protecting the wilderness of the night sky. It was a bright winter day when I was there, but I took a number of photographs and decided to use my imagination to translate them to magical, star-filled, moonlit skyscapes in the protected Dark Skies Corridor for the exhibition.