Nebulae In The Odyssey

During the next eighteen days, the Odyssey navigated through a dazzling array of nebulae as they left the Orion spur and entered the Perseus arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. In one area, in particular, the spirals of nebula clouds reminded Surina of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting. On another occasion, she saw an electrifying nebula cloud in the shape of a cat’s neon green eye staring at her from a distance. In fact, the serpentine arms of the nebula clouds stretched throughout interstellar space, providing nests to incubate baby stars. Moments later, the kaleidoscope of colors and shapes would transform into new configurations as if the ephemeral nebulae were alive. Elsewhere, the supernovae from exploding stars coruscated like
sequins in the tableau of nebulae, stars, planets, and black holes. From the telescope on the observation deck, they even glimpsed distant galaxies that resembled iridescent rose-colored pinwheels from afar. When they skirted around the edge of innumerable solar systems, they beheld the breathtaking sight of exoplanets of every size and hue orbiting around exotic suns. Some of the planets were globular, whereas others spun so fast around their axes that they were elliptical. Thus, the endless variety of astoundingly sublime celestial images provided unlimited inspiration to all the burgeoning painters, writers, philosophers, photographers, and musicians onboard.
Indeed, the number of artists in the Odyssey had blossomed exponentially since the start of the voyage. In fact, the creative process held many of the passengers spellbound, even those who had never considered themselves as artists before. While writing a poem about the Whirlpool Galaxy, Surina concluded that all humans were artists for maybe life itself was an art. For example, Bob Pagett only discovered his talent for photography in the depths of space. He chronicled all the stages of the journey meticulously with stunning photographs that most people on Earth would unfortunately never see. As Francesca’s confidence as an artist blossomed steadily, her galvanizing canvases became bolder and more intricate than ever before. After the completion of The Colors of the Universe tapestry, Linda started knitting a new Arrival on Gnaritus mural. Indeed, tomorrow they would enter their new home planet’s ternary solar system at the edge of the Perseus arm. Due chiefly to the profusion of artistic endeavors, they decided to celebrate their imminent arrival at their destination with a party and a Journey to Gnaritus art exhibition. Gabriel and Rafaela enthusiastically agreed to provide the entertainment for the party with a selection of their original compositions. Similarly, Chief Cook Grenier was only too happy to arrange another celebratory
feast. The two passageways on the opposite sides of the observation deck leading to the dining and sleeping compartments were awash with paintings, sketches, and photographs. In the center of the observation deck, Linda displayed The Colors of the Universe mural opposite Francesca’s series of paintings chronicling the voyage through the Milky Way. The Ellison children also exhibited their colorful crayon drawings next to Francesca’s watercolors and oil paintings. Most of the artists remained beside their art pieces to explain the history of the work and to answer any questions. However, the Ellison children were noticeably absent from their collection as they were busy playing elsewhere on the observation deck. Instead, their parents proudly showed off the mesmerizing paintings to the admiring crew and passengers.
The new forms, patterns, and ideas in the art exposition impressed Surina. Out of the tremendous void remaining after severing their ties to their home planet, they had created a heart-wrenching ode celebrating both the outer and the inner spaces of the universe. There were a plethora of pictures depicting the nebulae, supernovae, extraterrestrial planets, and stars but surprisingly only a handful of the Earth. For the majority of the passengers, this was because they only discovered their creative talents much later in the voyage when the Earth was already a distant memory. At the start of the journey, their worldly cares drowned their dreams about anything beyond the Earth so that they remained doggedly on terra firma. Eventually, they found the courage to sever the umbilical cord tying them to their former prosaic lives but only after the distances from Earth grew insuperable. Once they had freed their crushed souls from the confines and conventions of the Earth, their imaginations soared into space.