Overview

Recognizing the power of satellite imaging to engage viewers in the beauty and science of the Earth, The Earth Exposed is an evolving project that integrates Earth science research and education around the imagery of Earth taken from space. For scientists and geographers, these images expose Earth’s features and processes as never before, revolutionizing our understanding of Earth systems. For students and the public, these same images can be of breathtaking beauty. Just as art transcends technique to convey deeper messages, these images inspire such emotions as awe and reverence for Earth and they transform Earth science education into exploration and discovery of our planet as an interconnected whole.

The Earth Exposed presents basic scientific and geographic concepts about remote sensing (satellite imagery) through the display of aesthetically pleasing images. The exhibit not only shows intriguing images, but also demonstrates various techniques that geographers employ to study the Earth from space. To create the pieces I use various remote sensing software to manipulate satellite images in a number of ways bringing out patterns of beauty as well as meaning through the use of color, scale, juxtaposition, and a wide range of wavelengths of energy (Ultra Violet, Visible, Infrared, Microwave).

We are now able to see the world as never before. In the past few years we have put numerous satellites into orbit that show incredible details about the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, cities, and ice caps. From 400 miles above the Earth we can not only detect global warming, but we can also monitor traffic in New York City. We are living in a time of revolutionary change in how we view the Earth. In the near future we may become very familiar with these types of images and our mental maps of the world might be thermal as well as political.

The Earth Exposed was first exhibited in Salem Massachusetts in 1998. Since then it has appeared at over a dozen venues including the Art & Science Gallery at the headquarters of the National Science Foundation to a three-city tour in Australia.

Images from The Earth Exposed, 2004 - Philadelphia.

Images from The Earth Exposed, 2008 - Salem, MA