posted 05-27-2018 05:40 AM               

A highlight for me was his visit in my exhibition "Apollo and Beyond" at the Technik Museum Speyer, Germany in April 2010. He was very excited that I dedicated a private section "Alan Bean: Astronaut and Artist" to him. In the preparation of my exhibition, which took about 3,5 years I had informed and always updated him about my plans. He then attended the exhibition and he said: "The exhibition is three times better than I ever expected". Such a compliment is not to beat.

As a human being he has made himself many thoughts about my private and professional life. He gave me very often, from experiences in his life, again and again instructions what to do and what not. I've appreciated it very much and we had always lot of fun about it. He was a mentor for me as a human being and sometimes like a father and I will keep these years in special memory and never forget.

It is very sad for me that Alan has left us forever. RIP Alan and have fun with Pete and Dick.

posted 05-27-2018 10:35 AM               

If there's a song in your heart you better sing it now, because after you're gone no one else will!

Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes — Walt Whitman

Light to thy path,
Wind to thy sails,
Dreams to thy heart.

posted 05-27-2018 10:56 AM               

If I am correct on my history it is Al and his relationship with the late Kim Poor that led to the establishment of SpaceFest, an annual event that allowed thousands of us to meet and speak to so many of our astronaut heroes.

I had the opportunity to spend a day with Commander Bean in his house and studio many years ago. I traveled with Nick Proach to Houston so Nick could show Al the progress Nick was making on a model he had been commissioned by Al to build. It was a 1:6th scale model of the Surveyor spacecraft that Al intended to use as a "massing model" for his painting. Al had a large 10 x 10 foot square platform with what looked like a plaster replica of the moon's surface. Al used 1:6th scale models of suited astronauts and a single point light source to get the shadows correct. He had his easel set up a few feet away. The surveyor was being built for this purpose.

Nick had hand carried his model on the airplane for Al to see. After we arrived they both tended to business as I had a look around Al's giant studio. The home had vaulted ceilings and one wall, maybe 20 or more feet high, displayed many of Al's original paintings. There were several blank spots where pictures were removed. Al explained that the day before the head of a large company whose name all would recognize had visited and bought several of the originals.

After a time it was decided that we would all go to lunch together. Al took us to his favorite Italian restaurant. He was a frequent guest of the restaurant and they called him by name when we entered. Before we sat down Nick excused himself to visit the men's room. My conversation with Al had been extremely limited up to that point as I was essentially just a non participating fan. But suddenly left with Al and myself I had to come up with something fast. And I know how worn out all the standard questions for a moonwalker must be. So quickly I mentioned I had attended the same school he had years ago in a small town in Texas when Al was a kid and his father worked for the Corps. of Engineers. His dad helped construct a dam and ensuing lake in central Texas. Al beamed at that and we had a most casual, easy going, and pleasant conversation.

The rest of the day is a blur. But how fortunate I will forever feel to have sat across from Al Bean. He paid for our lunch by the way. I went on to see Al a few more times at book signings in Tucson and Spacefest.

posted 05-27-2018 07:54 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by SpaceAngel:
Any statement by Dave Foley, who portrayed as Bean in the 1998 miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon"?

---

I'm saddened by the death of a great man, Alan Bean. He was the 4th man to walk on the moon. He was also the first and only artist to walk on the moon. I was honored to meet him. He was kind, funny, generous and heroic.

posted 05-28-2018 06:53 AM               

As part of his visit Alan spoke to two groups of school children at Wakefield Girls High School: 1200 pupils in total.

Gathered in the school assembly, black out curtains were closed three quarters of the length of the hall from the stage to the rear... to make it easier to view Alan's presentation, but for the merest chink in the curtains closest the stage that allowed a slither of light to pierce the gloom - running diagonally across the front of the stage like a sword.

As the talk progressed Alan focused on the beauty and colour of the earth compared with the grand but bland colours of the moon. "When people die they hope to go to heaven: the garden of Eden. But we are already here: we are living in the garden of Eden!"

At that moment, a butterfly appeared from who knows where and fluttered in to the sword of light just a few feet directly in front of Alan. And there is stayed for a few moments, fluttering around Alan before heading off out of sight. A ripple of "awe" ran around the room. The timing was remarkable and it could not have been staged better.

I am not religious but I could not help but feel some kind of divine intervention was at play that bordered on emotional.