June 6, 1969
Matthew Day Jackson
American, born 1974
Details
Title
June 6, 1969
Artist/Maker
Matthew Day Jackson (American, born 1974)
Date
2010
Medium
Gypsum board, found wood, lead, and stainless steel frame
Dimensions
121 x 93 x 3 inches
Credit
Purchase with funds from Alfred Austell Thornton in memory of Leila Austell Thornton and Albert Edward Thornton, Sr., and Sarah Miller Venable and William Hoyt Venable and with the Sara and Paul Steinfeld Acquisition Fund for Modern and Contemporary Art
Accession #
2010.232
Location
Currently not on view
Based on a Life magazine cover featuring the Apollo 10 mission, June 6, 1969 perfectly encapsulates Matthew Day Jackson’s interest in the continued influence of America’s past on its current political and social landscape. This piece teems with cultural references while commenting directly on Apollo 10. The lunar module is located in the lower right corner, silhouetted in molten lead. Using modified gypsum board, Jackson creates a photo realistic stand-in for both the magazine cover and the cratered surface of the moon. This thoughtfully conceived piece examines the literal and metaphorical aspects of artistic journeys and connects the image of a space traveler with that of an artist, suggesting that belief enables both to move beyond their physical and mental limitations.
Image Copyright
© Matthew Day Jackson