art at airports

Science snaps on display at Rapid City Regional Airport

Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) in South Dakota is welcoming travelers with a temporary art exhibition, “The Science at SURF: Images from the Underground, Lead, SD.”

Located in the former site of the Homestake Gold Mine, SURF is now an underground research facility whose tagline tells us, “Scientists probe the depths of space to learn more about our place in the universe.”

The exhibit includes photographs snapped within the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) by SURF photographers Matthew Kapust and Stephen Kenny. Here’s a sampling.

Gloved hands work on delicate wiring in a cryostat.
Geologists drill holes to extract core samples of rock.

Images in concrete at Miami Int’l Airport

If you’re traveling to or through Miami International Airport (MIA), take a minute to visit the airport’s CameraWork Gallery at Gates D22 and D25.

A new exhibit in that gallery features photographs of concrete structures in Miami and Havana that were designed by Cuban architects who fled the island after the Cuban Revolution.

The photographs are by Miami-based Cuban photographer Silvia Ros and portray sites such as the Miami Marine Stadium, Miami Dade College’s North and South campuses, and Havana’s legendary Nautical Club (Club Náutico).

Parque Jose Marti Stadium (1959-60). Photo courtesy of the artist.

On display through June 10, 2024, Connecting Concrete: Modernist Architecture from Havana to Miami is a collaboration between Ros and art director, designer, and writer Tim Hossler.

The exhibition features 12 architectural photographs taken in Havana, Cuba, and Miami, Florida, from 2015 to 2023. The photographs are grouped by city, with Havana images from Ros’s project Cuba Modern at D22 and Miami images from Concrete Miami at D25. 

“Miami is well known for its beachside Art Deco, famous landmarks, MiMo motels, and the vital residential areas, but the relationships between Miami and Cuba are reflected in many significant buildings and environments,” said Ros. “These buildings deserve the honor of being acknowledged and documented, not only for their storied pasts but for future generations who may not have the opportunity to interact with these buildings as we have.”

Miami Marine Stadium (1964). Photo courtesy of the artist.

“Concrete architecture in Miami and Havana exudes a poetic beauty that transcends the utilitarian nature of the material,” said Hossler. “Though distinct in their cultural and historical backgrounds, these cities share a common thread of embracing concrete as a canvas for artistic expression.” 

John Wayne Airport celebrates Orange County’s musical legacy

 

A new exhibition at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA celebrates the region’s musical legacy.

That OC Sound includes displays dedicated to famous musicians and bands, and two prominent musical instrument manufacturers, Fender and Rickenbacker.

Almost 50 bands and solo artists that got their start in Orange County – or at least have one member from the area – are featured in a large two-case display. Familiar names on the faux record covers in the exhibit include James Taylor, Cold War Kids, Atreyu, Social Distortion, and, No Doubt.

Orange County is home to Fender and Rickenbacker, two iconic guitar manufacturers.

The Rickenbacker factory is down the street from John Wayne Airport, and the factory loaned archival materials and brand-new instruments to the exhibit.

Two display cases include items on loan from local Fender collectors and the Leo Fender Museum, which is part of the Fullerton Museum Center, about 20 minutes from John Wayne Airport, in downtown Fullerton, CA.

That OC Sound exhibition at John Wayne Airport can be found in the Destination Gallery, pre-security on the upper Departures Level between Terminals B & C through May 1, 2024.

 

Fresh art at O’Hare Int’l Airport

If you’re traveling through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) over the holidays and are passing through Terminal 5 (T5) you’re in for an art-filled treat.

The installation of a $3.5 million public art commission featuring work by more than 20 Chicago artists is nearly complete and it’s pretty darn impressive.

Here is a selection of the works you’ll be able to see.

Above is a part of the piece titled a murmuration by Jina Valentinewhich consists of 600 wall-mounted convex aluminum discs of varying sizes on view in the Passenger Level Concourse.

The artwork is a data visualization mapping over 200 years of immigration to the Illinois region. The color shifts as you move from one end of the piece to the other, illustrating the changes in immigration patterns over time.

Shinsekai Yori / From the New World (above), by Mayumi Lake is on view in the T5 International Arrivals Corridor.

Buffalo Chart at O’Hare, by Bernard Williams, is also in the International Arrivals Corridor.

In addition to all the new works on view in Terminal 5, you’ll find art in Terminal 1, Terminal 2, the Terminal 3 Rotunda, the muli-modal transportation facility, and elsewhere on the O’Hare Airport Campus.

Fresh art at Denver International Airport

 Denver International Airport (DEN) is hosting “Perfect Patchwork,” a quilting exhibition showcasing the work of 100 artists from Colorado.

On view from through February 2024, the exhibit features quilts from The Rocky Mountain Wa Shonaji Quilt GuildThe Denver Metro Modern Quilt GuildThe Colorado Quilting Council, and The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.

Visitors will find display cases filled with large hanging quilts, unique quilted clothing, and a variety of quilts in different shapes and sizes. Look for quilts representing the city of Denver, celebrating Colorado’s natural beauty, and featuring aviation themes.

You’ll find “Perfect Patchwork” at Denver International Airport in Ansbacher Hall, near the A-Bridge security, and on level three of Concourse C.

(Photos courtesy Denver International Airport)