Where Wonder Begins
- Sharife Gacel
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
“Every mission to the stars begins long before the launch. It begins the moment someone dares to look up.”
Following an event at the Orlando Science Center and inspired by the Space for Art Exhibit, I created this piece above. The exhibit was especially curated and presented by the Space for Art Foundation and Space for a Better World. The exhibit beautifully blends space and art, reminding viewers that exploration is both technical and deeply human.
The moment captured here is rooted in something real and quietly powerful: witnessing NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott in conversation with a young girl as the child placed her hand against the glass case surrounding a space shuttle artifact. It was a remarkable moment to witness. There was a kind of magic in that exchange. Not spectacle. Not a ceremony. A real connection between generations, standing inches from something that changed the world.
In this drawing, the child’s hand reaches upward toward a model rocket displayed behind glass. That glass becomes symbolic. Dreams are visible, and they are real. Sometimes we can see our dreams clearly, but there is a barrier. The challenge is figuring out how to make the dream real.
Beside her stands Nicole, a reminder of what’s possible. The posture suggests encouragement, as if lifting the child’s aspirations rather than limiting them. On the wall hangs an image of Nicole aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, reinforcing the idea that what once seemed distant is, in fact, possible. That photograph grounds the dream in reality. Someone has been there, and someone has done this. And that someone is standing next to a young dreamer.
Although no face is visible, the young girl’s appearance carries childlike wonder. It’s an open and unfiltered curiosity that precedes ambition. She is not calculating odds or obstacles. She is simply reaching. As part of the Human in Human Spaceflight series, this piece focuses on the heart. It centers on the encouragement and the spirit of launching dreams.
“Where Wonder Begins” honors that fragile, formative space between inspiration and action. It suggests that while dreams may appear to sit behind glass, they are not out of reach. They require effort, guidance, and belief.
Exploration does not start on a launchpad. It starts with a hand on the glass and someone beside you saying, " Keep going.”
To go on a virtual tour of the exhibit, please click here or image below.
A special thank you the Space For Art Foundation for including me in this amazing exhibit.
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