Introduction: A Celestial Art Series Comes to Europe
The ongoing project Unfolding the Universe has evolved from a NYC-based tribute to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) into a multi-part international art celebration. The second chapter, Wandering Through Time and Space, opened September 6 at Torch Gallery in Amsterdam and runs through October 26. Led by digital artist Ashley Zelinskie, the exhibit expands the vocabulary of space-inspired art by weaving sculptures, textiles, and immersive VR around JWST’s sendings from the cosmos. The show also foregrounds the European Space Agency’s (ESA) contributions and the broader international collaboration behind Webb’s mission.
Multimedia explorations of Webb: From Pillars to Gravitational Lensing
New pieces in Amsterdam reinterpret iconic Webb imagery—such as the Pillars of Creation and the Cat’s Paw Nebula—through Zelinskie’s hands-on approach to 3D scanning, generative star maps, and copper-plated sculpture. A standout feature is Gravitational Lensing, which translates the bending of light into tactile forms that invite viewer interaction. The textile suite adds a tactile dimension: silk banners and robotic-loom cotton weavings recreate nebular depths with natural dyes and varying warp/weft densities, emulating the three-dimensional structure of space on fabric.
VR and Real-World Collaboration
The exhibition includes an ESA Webb VR Experience designed for desktop, mobile, and VR headsets. Users can explore simulated vantage points around Webb’s discoveries, complementing the physical artwork. Zelinskie’s collaboration with Out of Seam brings large-scale textiles into the gallery space, reinforcing the theme that Webb’s images can be rendered across materials, not just on screens.
ESA, NASA, and CSA: The International Web of Webb
Zelinskie’s work has long celebrated the international nature of space science. For this Amsterdam show, she foregrounds ESA’s role alongside NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), highlighting how three agencies collaborated to realize Webb. In her interview with Space.com, Zelinskie described how audiences can see the “cooperation in motion” through the art, talks, and interactive formats. The Amsterdam installation mirrors NASA’s ongoing partnerships by inviting ESA speakers and researchers to share perspectives, enriching the viewer’s engagement with the artworks.
From Studio to Gallery: The Creative Process
Believing that data can become sculpture, Zelinskie often works from NASA archives and 3D scans of nebulae. In Pillars of Creation, for example, she merges Webb’s imagery with a cartographic sense of L2, Webb’s orbital vantage point. Gravitational Waves and other pieces translate scientific phenomena into texture and form, letting visitors feel the cosmos rather than simply see it. The textile and sculpture pairings create a cohesive narrative: a nebula’s birth, evolution, and destruction expressed through material language as diverse as 3D prints, copper plating, and woven fabrics.
What to Expect at Torch Gallery
Visitors to Wandering Through Time and Space should anticipate a dialogue between science and art. Expect installations that invite movement around copper-plated sculptures, tactile fiber works, and a VR environment that places you inside Webb’s lens. The show’s curation emphasizes not only Webb’s grandeur but the teamwork behind the mission—ESA’s rigorous instrumentation, NASA’s engineering, and CSA’s contributions—translated into an accessible, immersive art experience.
Looking Ahead: A Canadian Chapter to Complete the Trilogy
Fans can look forward to the third chapter, which will shift focus to Canada and the CSA’s role in Webb. Zelinskie hints at continuing the language of copper, 3D-printed formations, and a companion VR experience that foregrounds Canadian scientists and engineers. The Amsterdam installment positions the series as a living conversation among the nations that made Webb possible, inviting audiences to walk through a cosmos-sized exhibit of cooperation, curiosity, and creativity.
Why This Matters: Art as a Bridge to Exploration
Unfolding the Universe in Amsterdam demonstrates how contemporary art can translate complex science into tangible, contemplative experiences. Zelinskie’s practice—turning mission data into sculpture, texture, and interactive media—helps a broader public grasp the awe and complexity of space exploration. The show reinforces the idea that space isn’t just a frontier of equations and telescopes; it’s a shared human endeavor that speaks across borders, languages, and disciplines.
