There is now officially a museum on the moon, and Raine’s founder and editor-in-chief Nova Lorraine was one of the selected artists whose work was included. 

The Lunaprise Moon Museum, curated by Space Blue, aims to preserve humanity’s art, culture, and technology. 222 artists had their artwork laser-etched onto Nanofiche nickel-based film, which was designed to last a billion years. The museum landed on the moon on February 22, 2024. 

Out of the 222 artists, Nova Lorraine was selected as one of the 22 BitBasel Crypto Art winners and Sustainable Development Goal Ambassadors. 

We sat down with Nova to discuss her out-of-this-world achievement. 

RAINE: Why did you want to send your fashion design to the moon?

NOVA LORRAINE: At first when I heard about the concept of the BitBasel Crypto Art Contest and their search for SDG Artists, I couldn’t resist sharing my artistic vision and seeing if the appreciation was mutual. When then contacted by BitBasel that I was one of the winning artists with the opportunity to have my art land on the moon, I was speechless and honored. This opportunity is another way that I can lead by example, inspiring young women, diverse voices, and all dreamers out there that doing what you love and taking your ideas to execution is the first step to seeing your dreams come true. I followed my instincts regarding the beautiful convergence of creativity and technology and it led me to creating a unique fashion design that is now part of history and one of the many artistic artifacts with a presence on the moon.

 RAINE: You are now truly an intergalactic supernova. What interests you about space? Has outer space impacted your designs?

LORRAINE: Haha. I love that. Space represents unlimited possibilities. It is a true representation of what the infinite really is. It is a new frontier for ideas, innovation, and adventure for mankind.

 RAINE: What was the inspiration for your selected design?

LORRAINE: The inspiration is a revolution in design, in fashion as a whole. This particular piece is called “SuperNova” and it is a creation by the House of Nova for the “A Design Revolution” collection. I have always loved the concept of a jacket dress, its versatility, and the multilayered story it gives the wearer and the admirer. It represents strength without compromising femininity. It embodies elegance while highlighting one’s sex appeal in a very natural and organic way. It screams style while delivering comfort and functionality and can work well across a variety of cultures and environments.

 RAINE: Why did you decide to submit this specific design to be sent to the moon?

LORRAINE: I feel this design represents forward-thinking, culture, beauty, and strength. I want all of my designs to be a symbol of these above qualities and inspire others to see these qualities within themselves.

 RAINE: How does this design represent a fusion of art and technology?

LORRAINE: For more than a year and a half, I have been designing with Generative AI tools and merging my formal training in fashion design with over 15 years of industry experience as a designer, editor, and creative director to develop one-of-a-kind design concepts and fashion art. The unique combination of my background and expertise has led me to be the ideal “jockey on the horse” for using technology to expand my imagination and increase my impact.

 RAINE: As a Sustainable Development Goal Ambassador, how do you practice/promote sustainability?

LORRAINE: As a designer who creates digital fashion that is produced on demand, it is one of the modern ways a fashion designer can reduce waste and overproduction. Additionally, I seek out modern fabrics to experiment with such as apple leather and sustainable silks. Further, I preserve the art of hands-on craftsmanship through my couture designs as well as the culture and history of the artisans through storytelling. Finally, I produce art shows, fashion collections, and poetry that drives positive impact in the areas of biodiversity and protecting wildlife such as baby elephants and young lynxes. I look forward to donating a percentage of sales proceeds to these causes including the African Elephant Research Unit and Knysna Park.  

RAINE: What do you want to say to other women in technology?

LORRAINE: It takes more than just carpenters to build a city. Just like it will take more than just current technologists to develop the experience we want in this new digital age. Women have the ability to bring their creativity, intuition, compassion, and desire for nurturing the people and things around them to any situation. Women are needed to add a diverse perspective to a very male-dominated field. This technology impacts all of us, and therefore all of us should be heard and have input in what will change the lives of everyone in the very near future.  

RAINE: How do you hope your journey from Jamaica to the moon will inspire others?

LORRAINE: I have often been one of the only people that look like me, with my background, with my areas of expertise, or with my creative perspective within most rooms I enter. Being different has been something that made me shy when I was younger, but as I got older, I began to see it as a superpower. Throughout the years, I have proudly embraced my uniqueness and have been empowered by my individuality. I seek to continue to inspire by example, that anyone, from anywhere, even a young child born in a small town on the south coast of an island in the Caribbean Ocean can have a presence on the moon!  

RAINE: What do you hope the museum will convey about humanity to the extraterrestrials who may one day visit it?

LORRAINE: We are a collective that is committed to creativity and its power to preserve history, tell stories, and inspire positive emotions no matter what planet you call home. I personally hope the museum shows that mankind as a whole cares about their future and the possibilities of what is waiting to be discovered by someone else or the generations of humans that are eons in the future.

RAINE: Now that your art has landed on the moon, where do you hope your art can travel to next?

LORRAINE:  In the immediate future, I look forward to taking my art to international exhibitions such as Jamaica, Ghana, Canada, and Dubai. All of the places I am excited about for many reasons- most notably the first three areas have a strong representation of my culture and the last is a new frontier for innovation and creativity.