Exhibit Opens June 13, Runs Through Mid-September

The Museum of Flight at Seattle's Boeing Field (BFI) has a busy summer in store.

A major showing of new aerospace art, the American Society of Aviation Artists 2008 International Aerospace Art Exhibit, opens at the museum on Friday, June 13. Running through September 14, the juried show features over 50 paintings and sculptures by artists from around the world.

Many of the exhibiting artists will be attending the ASAA Annual Forum at the Museum from June 16 through 21. The Forum includes public workshops, panel discussions and a Youth Art Class. Museum visitors will have the unique opportunity of meeting and learning from some of today's most talented aerospace artists. A panel discussion with five artists is open to Museum of Flight visitors at 1330 on Saturday, June 21.

Aerospace art upholds a rich tradition of narrative painting, displaying technical mastery of the medium and historical accuracy in aviation and space related subject matter. Many aerospace artists also take the genre into new directions with work that is fanciful and abstract.

ASAA members Steve Anderson, Russell Smith and Tom Kalina will present programs that highlight each artist's unique methods of creating their art -- the research, composition, photography, lighting, style and technique.

The Forum will feature well-known aerospace artists Keith Ferris and Robert McCall, both of whom have major paintings on permanent display in the National Air and Space Museum as well as renowned Seattle-based classical artist Juliette Aristides who selected the artworks for the exhibition. Local artist and aviator Erik Lindbergh will also speak. On Friday, June 20 up to three-dozen Forum artists will be painting and drawing throughout the Museum. The Forum is open to the public with registration through the ASAA website.

The exhibition will be joined by the aircraft of the Wings of Freedom Tour operated by the Collings Foundation on June 20. A B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, and TP-51C Mustang will be on display at the museum through the evening of Sunday, June 22.

The rare WWII aircraft will be available for walkthrough tours and flight experiences throughout the weekend.

(Among the works attendees of the exhibit include, from top to bottom: "Lightning Lady," by Stan Vosburg; "Chords," by James Pullen; and "International Space Station," by Mark Waki.)

FMI: www.museumofflight.org, www.asaa-avart.org/forum2008/forum2008.htm, www.collingsfoundation.org