Psyche Inspired
Learn more about the Psyche Inspired program and view other works
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Psyche Inspired: Sarai Rankin
Institution: Morgan State University
Major: Physics
Psyche Inspired Class: 2020-2021
Reflections on Psyche Inspired
Reflections on Project 1: TwentyTwentyTwo
TwentyTwentyTwo
Sarai Rankin
Major: Physics
Genre/Medium: digital painting
About the work: TwentyTwentyTwo is a digital painting of the Psyche spacecraft hovering just above the Psyche asteroid. Drawn using Medibang Paint Pro, I wanted to make it seem like Psyche had just risen over its own horizon. I took inspiration from movie posters, having the “release” (launch) date be the biggest part of the image along with a tagline. The subtitle reads “What lies at the center of it all?” This is purposely vague in hopes that it will capture people’s attention and will follow whatever platform they see the image on to find more information on the mission.
Reflections on Project 2: Outer Soul
Outer Soul
Sarai Rankin
Major: Physics
Genre/Medium: sculpture made of repurposed globe, acrylic paint, liquid solder, craft flowers, wires, liquid plastic
About the work: “Outer Soul” is my interpretation of Psyche as a fully formed planet. Following the hypothesis that Psyche may be a planetary core, I wanted to show off the potential Psyche, and other planetary cores, could have if they had completed their formations. This piece is composed of a globe painted in Psyche mission colors, and it is drizzled with metal to remind everyone of the metal core center. The cutout is filled with flowers to represent cultivation and butterflies, a symbol for the soul. All of these elements come together to show the amazing things that come from planets, such as non-water rain, gaseous storms, and organic life. The possibility to visit a potential planetary core is incredibly fortunate and will lead to hundreds of new revelations about planetary formations.
Reflections on Project 3: Logo Loop & Neon Psy-gn
Logo Loop & Neon Psy-gn
Sarai Rankin
Major: Physics
Genre/Medium: digital, FireAlpaca
About the work: “Logo Loop” and “Neon Psy-gn” (pronounced “sign”) are both gifs celebrating animated how exciting the Psyche mission is. I wanted to make them eye-catching to draw people into the mission. All the frames were drawn and assembled in FireAlpaca. Initially, the gifs were supposed to be used as live wallpapers for people’s phones (and they are currently my phone’s home and lock screen), but I also believe they can be used in other areas as promotional material! “Logo” would make an interesting intro/closer clip to a video presentation, and “Neon” could be a cool addition to a webpage. Overall, the gifs have a lot of potential to be unlocked, just like the information we will retrieve from Psyche!
Reflections on Project 4: Psych-Tee
Psych-Tee
Sarai Rankin
Major: Physics
Genre/Medium: Embroidery, Raglan T-Shirt
About the work: I wanted to have a design on the shirt that was eye-catching enough to have people ask me where it was from, so I could get to tell them all about the Psyche mission! The front design is the asteroid with the satellite’s panels branching off of it, and the back design is a borderless satellite taking off. I left an outline off of the solar panels and the back design because it made the shirt seem more welcoming and open. I also added the satellite’s dimensions in kilometers on the sleeve. I hope that when people see the numbers, or the unfamiliar logo, it will invite them to strike up a conversation about the shirt and the Psyche mission as a whole.
