In September 2021, a diverse group of artists and creatives gathered in a posh Four Seasons conference room in Houston, filled with anticipation and disbelief. They shared a dream of going to the moon, whittled down from a staggering one million applicants to just ten hopefuls. Excitement reverberated in the air as their chance to land seats on what was to be the world’s first private lunar mission – the dearMoon project – reached a surreal juncture: a lighthearted game of ping-pong.

The man behind this ambitious venture was Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire entrepreneur, art collector, and former punk drummer. Known for his extravagant philanthropic endeavors, Maezawa captured global headlines when he announced in 2018 that he would purchase a seat on SpaceX’s innovative Starship launch, extending the remaining seats to artists! His vision? To send a team of creative minds on a flight around the moon to inspire new art inspired by their cosmic journey.

Among the selected were renowned figures like musician Steve Aoki, documentary filmmaker Brendan Hall, nature photographer Karim Iliya, and even Olympic gold-medalist Kaitlyn Farrington, showcasing a blend of traditional and unconventional artistry.

However, the dream was shattered. As June 2022 approached, uncertainty loomed over the project. Citing the delayed development of SpaceX’s Starship, Maezawa announced the heartbreaking decision to cancel the mission, leaving the crew members grappling with disappointment and confusion. "I can’t keep the crew’s lives on hold," he explained publicly, echoing a sense of empathy for the diverse group who were ready to embark on this unprecedented adventure.

Despite their aspirations, the cancellation came as a bitter blow, with many crew members expressing an indomitable spirit about waiting longer to chase their dreams. "I don’t know anyone who would have chosen to abandon the mission rather than wait,” said Tim Dodd, a passionate science communicator.

As billionaires like Maezawa and Musk venture into space, their experiments often double as spectacles devoid of solid plans for their artistic participants. For many, the dearMoon project became a cautionary tale about the whims of the ultra-wealthy and the precarious nature of dreams hinging on the business decisions of a single individual.

The desire to utilize a deep space journey as a vehicle for artistic expression is not new. Historically, art and exploration have been inextricably linked, with astronauts throughout the ages capturing moments in the cosmos. However, the scale of this project represented unprecedented potential for underrepresented voices in the art community.

With the current state of space travel significantly advancing thanks to private enterprises like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the door to a new age of space exploration opened up, albeit primarily for the wealthy elite. The ongoing commercialization of space has also raised significant questions over accessibility and the ecological footprints of such ventures.

In the aftermath of the project’s cancellation, many artists redirected their focus to advocating for community-oriented projects and addressing pressing global issues. Yemi A.D., a dearMoon crew member, founded the Moonshot Platform to grant mentorship and support innovative projects aimed at bettering communities.

Amid all the challenges and disappointment, the experiences garnered from the dearMoon journey will continue to resonate within the artistic community and beyond. The crew remains hopeful that one day, the chance to soar among the stars may be granted anew, bringing forth a space where art and exploration meet once more. After all, as they look to the heavens, the moon still shines brightly - a reminder of dreams that are yet to be realized.