Dreams of Outer Space

Dreams and goals, by their nature, contain an element of the impossible. If they didn't, they'd be just be ordinary activities we take for granted (although, interestingly, one person's ordinary activities are often another person's dream).

For Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a former teacher who became an astronaut and is now a geologist for a private firm, she knew from a young age that she wanted to be all three. And though the three dreams seem separate, they share an appreciation for science she developed in elementary and middle school, sparked by projects like distilling fruit food waste into ethanol that eventually ran her teacher's lawnmower.

Science spoke to her.

"Science brought you together with other people who were collaborating to understand how to solve big problems," Metcalf-Lindenburger says. "Science helped you to meet those new people, Science solved problems. I wanted to be one of those scientists."

Art, also, speaks to the retired astronaut, who in her 10-year career with NASA met the Apollo astronauts who were the first – and only – 12 humans to walk on the surface of the moon. One of these astronauts was Alan Bean, who retired from space travel to chronicle it on canvas, creating paintings of another world by somebody who was actually there.

"I first became aware of Bean's work when I worked at Wenaha Gallery while I was attending Whitman College," Metcalf-Lindenburger explains. "I was very impressed and interested in its details." Little did she know that less than ten years later she, like Bean, would fly in space.

On Saturday, Metcalf-Lindenburger will be at Wenaha Gallery (219 E. Main, Dayton) to talk about achieving dreams, as well as about her mission in the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station, 250 miles from the earth. Metcalf-Lindenburger's free talk, which begins at 10:30 at the gallery, is part of Wenaha's Autumn Art Show that runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also featured at the show are Walla Walla acrylic pour artist Joyce Klassen, Richland jewelry artist Venita Simpson, artisan treats by framer/chef Savonnah, live music by Walla Walla musician Roy Anderson, and a free Steve Henderson note card to every visitor.

In addition, the gallery is showcasing a wall of artwork the late Alan Bean, who passed away in May of this year. All Bean fine art editions in stock are 10 percent off on the day of the show.