From Saddleworth to the Moon, via Mossley.

In 1969, 6 prominent American artists led by Forest Myers and including Andy Warhol, approached NASA with a proposal to send a small 2.5cm square tile, containing their illustrations to the moon via Apollo 12, after NASA dithered with their requests the 6 decided to smuggle the tile onto the lander Intrepid via a technician, the existence of the tile has never been confirmed by NASA. 

Artist Simon Mound is preparing to launch his latest art installation on the surface of the Moon. Blast off is scheduled from Cape Canaveral, Florida on 4th May 2023, when Astrobotics, a company that holds a NASA contract for delivering commercial payloads, launches the Peregrine lander. Peregrine will touch down in the Gruithuisen Domes region of the lunar surface, 8 days later, and will be the first lunar landing for the space agency since the Apollo era in 1972.

“My children had been watching a video by Jimmy Donaldson known as Mr Beast, an American philanthropist and vlogger, who was sending a time capsule to the moon, for a few days I considered the possibility of sending artwork, made some enquiries, then set to work on creating a small selection of paintings, that would complement the project and each other. Due to the nature of the project time scales were quite tight, however in the end everything came together quite easily, and the process was no more complicated than using any terrestrial courier service.”

Simon’s unique style of iconic pop portraits are now part of the lunar missions payload, including the star man himself David Bowie, Manchester legend Liam Gallagher, and Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys. Since submitting the artwork there’s been an almost 2 year delay in the project, this is rocket science after all, time has not sat still though as Simon has been relocating his studio from Lees High Street to a more suitable venue in Mossley, completed several statement pieces for bars in Urmston, Mossley and Delph, and returned to his love of playing records.

“I’ve always been fascinated by space and thought it would be a cool thing to be involved i enjoy exhibiting my artwork away from the normal perception of a gallery, there’s been almost 2 years of delays since I’ve submitted my artwork, the oriainal launch date was July 2021 and it was my intention to present the ultimate socially distanced exhibition, I’ve recorded the entire process and I’m looking forward to releasing the final edit, with added footage of the launch and landing via NASA television”

Simon 49, who creates his portraits using hand cut stencils and spray, paint began painting professionally in 2004.

“I’ve liked the process of screen printing since learning it at high school some 37 years ago, I wanted to couple its layering method of creating work with my interest in spray paint, my first piece was painted onto a guitar around 1991. I’ve always kept my eye on different ways to exhibit work away from the confines of a gallery, and the opportunity to utilise the partnership that NASA has created with Astrobotics, has enabled me to present my work out of this world.”

Simon’s artwork can be viewed in his Studio at 421 Woodend Mill 2, Manchester Road, Mossley, and online via his website www.simonmound.co.uk which will have full information about the impending launch as the historic event gets nearer.