airport art exhibits

SAT: 5 Things We Love About San Antonio International Airport

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Our “5 Things We Love About...” series celebrates features and amenities at airports around the country and the world.

Today we’re landing at San Antonio International Airport (SAT).

Keep in mind that some of the amenities we love at the San Antonio International Airport may be temporarily unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans stopped by San Antonio International way back when

1. Art and music at San Antonio International Airport

“¡Adelante San Antonio!” by Dos Mestizx, Suzy González and Michael Menchaca

SAT presents live concerts and events and is home to a wide variety of temporary art exhibitions and permanent public art.

2. Kids play area at SAT

This new play area at SAT is located in Terminal A.

3. The Pet Relief Areas at SAT Airport

SAT has three service animal and pet relief areas. The two indoor areas feature red ornamental water hydrants, turf grass with multiple drains, waste bags, benches, and mirrors.

4. The Pups & Planes program at SAT Airport

The Pups & Planes dog therapy program at SAT Airport is part of the airport’s Ambassador Program. Volunteers and their pups visit the terminals on rotating schedules.

5. SAT’s Travel Safety Campaign

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and other airports in Texas have a new campaign to restore consumer confidence in air travel and to inform travelers of new safety protocols and enhanced health procedures.

One piece of the campaign is a free downloadable coloring and activity book. San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is featured in the book, along with Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), El Paso International Airport (EL), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB), and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

Did we miss any of your favorite features or amenities at San Antonio International Airport (SAT)?

If so, please leave a note in the comments section below.

And take a moment too to visit some of the airports in our “5 Things We Love About...” series.

Fresh airport art in Portland, Orlando & San Francisco

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Courtesy Port of Portland

We may be staying home but airports are open. And so are their art programs.

Here is some of the fresh art on view now at Portland International Airport (PDX), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

New concourse; new art at Portland International Airport

On July 15 Southwest Airlines is moving from Concourse C to the new Concourse E extension at Portland International Airport. 

In addition to offering the airport’s best view of Mt. Hood, the new concourse has more concessions and a major new piece of art by Jacob Hashimoto.

Poetry exhibit at Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is displaying it first-every poetry exhibition.

The show features poetry by 13 local writers, including Billy Collins, who is the former two-term Poet Laureate of the United States and the current Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Winter Park Institute.

Words in Flight – A Celebration of Orlando Area Poets includes poems inspired by the theme of flight, travel, and transformation paired with photographs from the airport’s archives.

Look for the exhibit through September 30, 2030 in the MCO Main Terminal, near the Checkpoint for Gates 70-129.

At SFO Airport: Eclectic Taste: Victorian Silver Plate

Courtesy SFO Museum

At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the SFO Museum is hosting an exhibit of silver-plated housewares that show off the ornate Victorian style.

Courtesy SFO Museum

From the SFO Museum’s exhibit notes:

“Produced in large quantities in England and the United States, silver plate was a hallmark of eclectic décor during the Victorian era (1837-1901).

By the late 1800s, many homes featured extensive collections of silver plate. The most elaborate items were found in the dining room and main parlor, where they served a variety of entertainment functions.

Ownership of silver plate became an indicator of social and economic status, and manufacturers created highly specialized and imaginative designs to meet consumer demand.“

Courtesy SFO Museum

Eclectic Taste: Victorian Silver Plate is located post-security in SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 through December 13, 2020.

Art we’re missing at SFO Airport

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We are missing the adventures that start at airports. And we’re missing all the great art and history exhibits that airports around the country offer.

For example, if we could go to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) right now we would take our time exploring some of the ongoing and new exhibitions offered by the SFO Museum.

Extra ‘O’ – African Barbershop and Hairdressing Signs (Terminal 2 Departures through November 1, 2020) features colorful hand-painted barbershop signs. The exhibit also displays items relating to hair in traditional African culture, including headrests, hair combs, and helmet masks.

And a just-opened exhibition features photographs from the early days of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park and SFO is hosting an exhibition of historical photographs by photographer R.J. Waters, who documented life in the park between 1896 and 1902.

The exhibition is on view through November 19, 2020, near Gate F5 in Terminal 3 and is part of the citywide celebration of the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park.

All photos courtesy of SFO Museum.

Travel Tidbits from Miami International Airport

Airports, ,

There seems to be a lot going on at Miami International Airport.

Some lucky passengers were treated to a pop-up tango performance:

A new exhibit, titled Imprinted, featuring 16 images by Argentine photographer Marina Font, is on display at MIA’s  gates D-22 and D-25, through February 18, 2020.

Marina Font – Dos Mundos

Font photographs objects that evoke a particular place or personal history to explore ideas about identity, gender, territory, language and memory

suitcase photo
Marina Font – untitled suitcase series

And MIA recently showed off its new $324-million state-of-the-art, fully automated baggage handling system.

The system can screen and transport more than 7,000 bags an hour, which doubles the speed and efficiency of baggage screening and delivery for flights in MIA’s Central and South terminals.

Scenic wallpaper exhibit at San Francisco Int’l Airport

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Courtesy Zuber et Cie and SFO Museum

The SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport is hosting a charming exhibition featuring a rare set of scenic wallpaper.

Scenic wallpaper? Yes.

It was and, in some forms, continues to be a thing.

Here’s the museum’s introduction to “Zuber: The Art of French Scenic Wallpaper”:

The French have manufactured several types of wallpaper over the centuries, though their nineteenth-century handcrafted scenic landscape papers are arguably the most spectacular. This unique wallpaper created a breathtaking panoramic experience with all the walls in a room covered with non-repeating scenes.

These mural-like papers transformed rooms, providing the opportunity for viewers to be swept away to an exotic place or immersed in an exciting period in history.

Scenic papers enjoyed a golden era in both Europe and North America from the first decade of the 1800s until the 1860s, though they remained in print well after this period.

Zuber et Cie is the only firm that fabricates these papers today. And they still use the original antique printing blocks, which have designated Historical Monuments by the French Ministry of Culture.

The SFO Museum exhibit includes a complete set of Views of North America wallpare as well as individual lengths from other series.

Here are few more images. You can see the full set on view at San Francisco International Airport in pre-security/departures level of the International Terminal through April 2020.

All photos courtesy SFO Museum.