"Space
Shuffle on 3-D TV" Stereoview Oil Painting each 36"x48", 1985.
by Michael Kupka, Canadian, 1950
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Presented here Right side/Left side Cross your eyes and see 3-D without glasses. For Left/Right Parallel View Visit
Not quite evident here (enlarge window for best view) but you will find that the Columbia logos are backwards all for good reason for they are to be seen in a Wheatstone Reflecting Stereoscope. Presented in 1838, Sir Charles Wheatstone, an avid inventor, positioned two drawings facing each other with a set of mirrors at 90 degrees between them. When you put your eyes up to the device each eye sees the proper picture and the two superimpose in your brain reconstructing a three dimensional image. "Space Shuffle..." is the last set of such paintings in a series entitled "The Stereoil Process", 1973- 1985. To see the entire series Visit.
It was at this time that I began to study computer graphics on an Atari ST-1040 with stereo outputs for Tektronic Liquid Crystal glasses and the very first version of Tom Hudson's 3D modeling program that was to become 3D Studio. The models are my own TV (1976-03), two inflatable toys from my collection gathered while documenting amusement parks in 3-D stereo, and a star chart (2D/3D conversion) from the Saturday Globe and Mail, Toronto, paper. The stars feature the Pleides cluster of 5-7 stars that were the favourites of the Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
Having closed down the studio at 1179a King St. W. I new this would be a final statement. All the paintings and drawings of the Stereoil Process have a story behind them; this was dedicated to future. Artists are much like astronauts, either taking of or landing and exploring regions unknown to others with only the inner spirit of love guiding them to attain their God-given destiny in the service of humanity. Like a 'naut one has to expect that you won't be able to fully explain what you sensed on your journey for many years later. Would there ever be a 3D TV to create images for? Would there ever be two shuttles in space; actually it just occurred to me that this painting may suggest there are three (discounting the imagination of a space station photographer). It was hope on both counts. Another angle was that in 2D it would suggest that the larger craft was in the foreground. The surprise gift that the lucky viewer in the future, when stereovision is understood, will see the small craft burst from the screen.
Binocular vision has been studied since the time of Euclid and still remains elusive to the masses. But we are making headway. My studies in 3D were done to help people understand that they have TWO eyes ©©. They are muscles that have to exercised. Today inventors are still trying to find a way to present 3D without glasses. Really all you have to do is cross your eyes. Actually your eyes are always crossed. The angle is very small when looking into space at the stars which might account for that mysterious feeling when looking at the moon. Bringing your focus back down to earth increases that angle and is quite great when you gaze into the eyes of a fellow stargazer. Look back at the moon or a shooting star and your eyes straighten out again. The magic of auroras is that they far much closer that the moon and not really very solid for focusing on so your eyes are really dancing as they move. Enjoy! Posters are available at the "3D Slice of Carrot Shop".
For more on the Pleides Visit. Remember that this was 1985 before Challenger; the small image above is the logo of the tripod I bought. Having just finished this painting only months before the disaster I quite well remember where I was that fateful day. My last painting, was it the end for me? And now Columbia; the artist taking off or coming home for a landing? Two shuttles, two paintings, seven stars in each, seven new stars in the heavens. Since 1972 my signature has started with a drawing of a seven-side star. I started my line drawings with it as an entry point. This year locally (close to home, Canada, west) there have been two avalanches with seven victims each. P.E.T.'s son Michael died in an avalanche. Anyway... the artist must not be undaunted, clear the mind, and find something more if one should be so lucky, if it's in the stars, to bring a glimmer of hope, understanding, and peace through Discovery.
Need 3-D glasses? New improved ones are now available at http://rainbowsymphony.com .
