Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon
Paul Calle’s Life of Exploration: From the Mountains to the Moon
Feb. 19, 2019 – Nov. 27, 2022
Something for the Pot II, oil on canvas; Courtesy The Peterson Family Collection
This retrospective exhibition traces the career of artist Paul Calle (1928-2010), who was best known for painting and drawing the historic American West featuring mountain men, fur traders and Native Americans, as well as NASA artwork and postage stamp designs including the iconic 1969 First Man on the Moon artwork and stamp. On that day, July 16, 1969, Paul Calle, an official artist of NASA, was the only artist present during the pre-launch activities of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, sketching various scenes including breakfast, suiting up and the walk-out to the space craft.
The exhibition will also showcase artworks that Calle completed while working as an illustrator and graphic artist for sports, medicine and children’s magazines, as well as his paintings and sketches of many famous people including President John F. Kennedy, Robert Frost and Helen Keller/Anne Sullivan, among others.
This exhibition is made possible through the collaboration of SMoW Trustee Tim Peterson, The Peterson Family Collection, Chris Calle & The Calle Family.
Power to Go
1969, oil on panel; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Copyright The Calle Family.
The Great Moment
c. 1969, oil on masonite; Collection of the Orlando Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. John J. McMullen. Copyright The Calle Family.
Neil Armstrong Suiting Up
1969, pen and ink; The Chris Calle Collection.
Presenting Sponsor:
Elaine & Time Peterson
Education Sponsor:
