AURORA, Colo. – An art teacher based in Aurora has achieved a feat that is truly out of this world. Passionate about art since childhood, Thad McCauley had his digital artwork displayed on the International Space Station, allowing him to make history in the art world. Currently, he is an art instructor at Aurora Frontier and is overjoyed that he can showcase creativity in space.
Details of McCauley’s life indicate that he always had a passion for creating and building things. His parents and teachers, such as Mrs. Jenkins, always motivated him to pursue his passion. Now, after spending 24 years teaching art to children between the ages of 5 and 14, McCauley is an established figure in the art world and Aurora.
The Step Beyond the Horizon
Feeling excited at the possibility of stepping into the art world at new heights, McCauley instantly shared the details with his 5th and 6th graders when he learned about an opportunity to win an art contest that allowed students to get on the International Space Station.
“I asked fifth and sixth graders if they were interested in participating, and they responded positively too,” McCauley said. Students were free to create their pieces solo or collaborate with another person. The challenge motivated creative thinking in the classroom, where students excitedly engaged themselves in their work.
A Personal Artistic Triumph
In addition to encouraging his pupils, McCauley decided to enter the contest. He designed a digital piece on his iPad that would soon ‘set its sails to the stars’ under the adult artist category.
To his delight, McCauley’s art got chosen and was uploaded to be exhibited on the International Space Station. It was just unbelievable to him when he saw his work floating inside the space station.
“You see inside the International Space Station, some type of observation window, and behind it the Earth and some stars, and then some pieces of art and some poetry floating there. I’m like, ‘Wait a second! That is my drawing!’” McCauley remembered. “And it was just one of those moments of pure joy.”
Full Circle Moment
This accomplishment was not only a simple triumph but also allowed McCauley to relive that moment of excitement from achieving a full circle. While growing up in Loveland, he was intrigued by the combination of art, science fiction, and space. It was indeed exceptional to witness this marriage of Loveland and art, but what was shocking was the nostalgia it brought back.
“It just really made me feel like a little kid again.” “That boy from Loveland who was fond of drawing designs and the Star Wars saga, NASA, and space,” McCauley claimed. “I was just amazed, and it felt wonderful.”
Inspiring Future Generations
His students who entered the contest were glad to see their teacher win. They learned that creativity knows no boundaries and was able to go beyond imagination well, beyond Earth.
McCauley hopes to inspire a future generation of artists, and this insightful experience further strengthened his desire to spread his passion for art. He argues that such moments illustrate to students that there are real-life possibilities for their imagination, and this curiosity can take them far, even into outer space.
Imagination and Perseverance
The tale behind his childhood fascination with doing art that resulted in his work being showcased on ISS is proof that passion, creativity, and the willingness to keep trying can lead to astonishing new possibilities. In the end, McCauley hopes that through his work, both pupils and teachers will learn to ever reach out for the stars, both figuratively and literally.
The contest was one opportunity for McCauley to put his talents to use but also an occasion to remind him of the power of creativity and imagination. His works transcending Earth’s prophecies, McCuley’s tale is proof that art knows no bounds.
