MIAMI (CBSMiami) – When SpaceX’s Inspiration4 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 16, it launched four civilian astronauts into orbit.
It also featured the work of Miami artist Jon Louis Gonzalez, a self-proclaimed space junkie who owns a studio in Wynwood.
READ MORE: Soggy start to the weekend leaves many parts of Miami-Dade under water
“I grew up in Melbourne, so I grew up watching a lot of the space missions,” explains Gonzalez, 27. “I had a teacher who was also an engineer and he would take us to the cape and teach us to be influenced by space.”
Thanks to social media, Gonzalez got in touch with astronaut Sian Proctor, who agreed to take his painting “Embrace 2” on the Inspiration4 mission. After orbiting the Earth for three days, the piece is up for auction. Proceeds benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
“The piece is being auctioned to benefit St. Jude’s, a hospital for children with cancer,” Gonzalez said. “It’s beautiful for me and my team to not only create movements, but also help others with my art.”
READ MORE: Father of missing 13-year-old Victoria Sophia Gonzalez waited to pick her up from school, yet to be seen
Embrace 2 is up for auction on Charity Buzz Dot Com, for a far fetched $8,000 so far.
Gonzalez wants to see that price rise faster than an Elon Musk rocket.
“We are truly blessed,” said Gonzalez. “It’s a God-given opportunity to be a messenger on Earth.”
Bidding on ‘Embrace 2’ ends November 10.
MORE NEWS: Wet day in Fort Lauderdale leads to flooding, slow workday at the beach
To bid on the painting, click here.
Comments are closed.