The Lindbergh School District will unveil two bas-relief sculptures on Monday, May 8, that were carried into space aboard SpaceShipOne, winner of the Ansari X PRIZE.
Through the generosity of artist Don Wiegand, the sculptures will be on display at a special exhibit at Lindbergh before they travel to their permanent home at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
This signature event features bas-reliefs of Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis airplane and reflects the achievements and vision of Charles Lindbergh.
They will be on display for one week in the Lindbergh School District Auditorium, 4900 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
The opening program will take place at noon Monday and will feature Morgan Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh; Gregg Maryniak, executive vice president of the X Prize Foundation; Marlene White, president of the Lindbergh Foundation; and Wiegand.
The “From Aviator to Astronaut — an Artist’s Connection” exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will run from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, May 8, through Friday, May 12. In addition, the exhibit will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 12.
Students and residents will have an opportunity to view the sculptures as well as an expanded exhibit area that focuses on art, technology, science and the pioneering spirit of Charles Lindbergh.
Special features include displays of student rocketry; the life of Charles Lindbergh; the flight of the Spirit of St. Louis; the X PRIZE competition; and artwork and sculptures by Wiegand, Mike Halbert and Lindbergh School District students.
The Lindbergh preview will be part of a project to carry on the legacy of Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh students, staff members, and families have set a goal to raise $10,580, the cost of the original Spirit of St. Louis, to fund a grant through the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation. The grant will be awarded by the foundation to further research focused on exploring the balance between technology and the environment.
Tax-deductible donations are being accepted for the Lindbergh Foundation grant. For more information, to make a donation, or attend a special artist’s reception or private sponsors’ dinner, call Mary Meyer at (314) 729-2400, Ext. 8802.