Most art in the Air Force is acquired through the Air Force Art Program. The program pays for artists enrolled in one of the Societies of Illustrators around the United States to travel to Air Force bases and look for appropriate art subjects. Once there, the artists take photographs and, after returning home, create various art works from those photographs. The art is then turned over to the Air Force at a major art show hosted by senior Air Force leaders.

Since the start of the program more than 50 years ago, nearly 8,000 pieces have been registered. Unfortunately, less than 100 of those feature space and missile themes, according to Scott Wirz, AFSPC history office museum and art program manager.

Because there is so little space and missile art, the Air Force Art Program has tripled the number of artists' trips to AFSPC units this year.

In addition to supporting increased art visits by Air Force Art Program members, the AFSPC historian's office is also searching for artists interested in donating art to the command. Such paintings may be added to the Air Force Art collection and displayed anywhere from the secretary of the Air Force's office in the Pentagon to a wing command section hallway.

"The command would like to discover artists within the Air Force, and especially in Air Force Space Command, who are producing space art or are interested in trying and who would like their paintings to become part of the collection," said Skip Bradley, AFSPC command historian.

The best news for budding artists is that even if art doesn't become part of the official Air Force Art registry, it can still be displayed at AFSPC space wings around the country.

"For various reasons, all donated art doesn't become official Air Force art," Bradley said. "However, that doesn't mean it's not good enough. It could simply be that the Air Force has enough on a certain subject matter."

Because the AFSPC mission is so diverse -- from missiles to space launches and satellites -- and the amount of existing art is limited, artists interested in working with the command are essentially starting with a fresh canvas.

"There are so many stories around the command that have yet to be told in art," Bradley said. "For example, the security forces members who walk the post around the missile alert facilities in the middle of winter have never been captured in paintings. That's the type of art we're looking for."

"We would like to see 'people pictures,' those showing folks at their jobs, as well as works on space hardware," Wirz said. "We'll try to explain to artists the different missions of Air Force Space Command and then let them use their creative skills to determine what to paint."

While artists are not compensated monetarily for their artwork, they do keep the intellectual copyright of the original piece, according to Wirz. This means artists are free to profit from any prints or other items they make from the original work. Also, by having their works placed in high-profile areas, artists are able to enhance their personal portfolios.

"The Air Force Space Command story needs to be better documented in art," Bradley said. "What better people to do it than those in the Air Force who live and breathe it every day?"

Artists interested in more information can call the AFSPC historian's office at 719-554-3081.

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