In the Balance: Between Painting and Sculpture, 1965–1985

Alma Thomas derived this abstract composition from observations of nature, both earthly and celestial. As the painting’s title suggests, the artist used the dust storms that occur on the red planet as the inspiration for the all-over composition of Mars Dust. These whirlwinds of iron-rich soil, which can envelop Mars for weeks or months, were first observed at close range during several space missions in 1971 and 1972. Fascinated by television and newspaper reports of these unprecedented images, Thomas decided to render her own version. She used an elastic band to guide the size and spacing of each dappled red brushstroke. The cobalt blue underlayer, visible between strokes, creates a shimmering, otherworldly effect.