Debra J. Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                     
September 23, 1991
(Phone:  202/453-8455)


RELEASE:  91-152

U.S.-SOVIET SPACE ARTISTS EXCHANGE SET


    The first U.S.-Soviet space art team exchange will be 
initiated on Sept. 28, 1991, when the American team arrives in 
Moscow.  The U.S. artists' visit is being sponsored by the Soviet 
Union of Artists.  Vitaly Myagkov, Deputy Director, Soviet 
Artists Union, cosmonaut/artist Alexei Leonov and other notable 
Soviet artists will be the official hosts.  As official guests, 
the U.S. team will visit various cities including Moscow, Star 
City and the Baikonur launch site where they will view the Oct. 
2, l99l, Mir space station crew launch.

    The purpose of the creative exchange is for each nation's 
artists to produce paintings representative of the other nation's 
space activities.  NASA will host a Soviet art team at the 
Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to view a Space Shuttle launch in the 
near future.  The Soviet team also will visit the U.S. Space 
Camp, Huntsville, Ala., to see how a civilian program is 
introducing American youngsters to the idea of space travel and 
preparing them for the future.

    The U.S. art team is headed by Robert Schulman, Director of 
the NASA Art Program.  Team members are:  Alan Chinchar, Houston, 
Texas; Pamela Lee, Modesto, Calif.; Andreas Nottebohm, Sonoma, 
Calif.; and John Solie, Seal Rock, Ore.  All of the selected U.S. 
artists are currently represented in the NASA space art 
collection.

    The resulting paintings from both the U.S. and Soviet art 
teams will be scheduled into a joint U.S./Soviet traveling 
exhibit.  Afterwards, the Soviet art work will be incorporated 
into NASA's space art collection and the U.S. paintings will be 
given to the Soviets for their collection.

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