Airport news from Miami and Albany Int’l Airports

Flying somewhere this week?

If you are, it’s a good bet you may find yourself stuck at the airport somewhere longer than you intended.

But we’re here to keep you up-to-date on some of the on-the-ground amenities that might keep you informed and entertained.

Miami Int’l Airport has a LEGO Store

Salt Lake City International Aiport (SLC) was the first US airport to have a LEGO store. one. And now Miami International Airport (MIA) has one too.

MIA’s 742-square-foot LEGO® store opened in May and is located near gate D14. Hours: daily from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Planting Utopia at Albany International Airport (ALB)

New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB) and its neighbor, the Shaker Heritage Society are jointly presenting work by artist Julia Whitney Barnes.

Barnes spent a year photographing and collecting specimens from over 150 plants growing in the Sharker Heritage Society’s herb garden, which is on the site of the first Shaker settlement in the United States.

The herb garden, and historic Shaker ‘gift’ or ‘spirit’ drawings, are the inspiration for the images and prints Barnes created during her year-long project going on view at Albany International Airport on July 16. There’s also a companion site-specific installation at the Shaker Heritage Society, which is a short walk from the airport.

At the Shaker Heritage Society’s 1856 Drying House, Barnes’ installation includes temporary murals on the exterior of the historic brick building. The images are stark blue and white silhouettes of herbs in bloom climbing the outside of the red brick walls. Inside, there are prints on fabric and hanging bunches of herbs from the garden. The murals and the installation will remain on view through summer 2023.

For the installation at Albany International Airport, Barnes made eight cyanotype paintings on paper with plants collected from the Shaker herb garden. (Cyanotype is an old photographic printing process that creates dark greenish-blue prints.)

These paintings are reproduced on aluminum panels that will be on view for three to five years in the pedestrian corridor linking the new south parking garage with the ticketing area.

On July 16, ALB Airport will also debut a six-month-long exhibition, called Planting Utopia, in the post-security Concourse A Gallery with artwork, preparatory sketches, and a documentary video about the collaboration.

(All images courtesy Albany International Airport)

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