Mattson’s scale replica of Portland’s St. John’s Bridge is made with about 120,000 LEGO pieces and is 4-feet-tall, 2-feet-wide, and 32-feet-long. It is built to scale with one LEGO “Stud” equaling 1 foot.
The only part that isn’t made of LEGO pieces is the bridge suspension, which is made of fishing line.
Mattson’s LEGO version of the Portland’s St. Johns Bridge is in the Concourse DE display case through July 2020 as part of the PDX Rotating Art Program, which shared these images.
Here’s what the real St. John’s bridge looks like. The steel suspension bridge is the tallest bridge in Portland and spans the Willamette River in Portland.
Credit: Cacophony, via Wikimedia.
This isn’t the first LEGO creation Erik Mattson has shared with travelers passing through Portland International Airport. His 80,000-piece LEGO sculpture of Oregon’s iconic Multnomah Falls was on display in 2018.
Yes, this staying at home and social-distancing routine is getting tiresome. But don’t forget that you can still enjoy lots of art and culture online and, in many cities, on foot, and by car.
Chess Sets
Bullfight chess set at the Maryhill Museum
If chess is one of the games you’ve been playing at home, you can learn about the history of the game and see some incredible chess sets in the online exhibition offered by the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, WA.
Alice in Wonderland Chess Set at the Maryhill Museum
Drive-By Art
Courtesy Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
If it seems like murals are taking over all the blank walls in many cities, you’re right.
But that makes it possible to take in free art shows from your car or during a socially distanced stroll through a city any time of the day.
By Todd Frain, using images by Creative Clay artists.
Many cities also make their mural collection accessible online. One example: in Florida, the SHINE Mural Festival curates more than 90 murals in the St. Pete/Clearwater area and its virtual tours include photos, videos, and, in many cases, audio descriptions of the artworks.
Wouldn’t it be nice right now to be making your way to an airport and getting ready to visit a new city or an old favorite?
That time will come. For now, here are some tidbits from airports around the country.
Pay respects to civil rights icon John Lewis at ATL Airport
In April 2019, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) unveiled an exhibit in the domestic atrium titled “John Lewis – Good Trouble” to honor the longtime U.S. Congressman and civil rights icon.
Lewis died late last week, on July 17, and the exhibit has turned into a memorial tribute where travelers can stop and pay respects.
New Concourse E extension at PDX Airport
Courtesy Port of Portland
We shared the news last week about the opening of the new Concourse E extension at Portland International Airport (PDX).
Here’s a bit more about the project.
The extension brings the first new gates to PDX in more nearly 20 years and offers views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia Rivier.
The new concourse extension also features two aerial sculptures by Jacob Hashimoto featuring 11,000 paper kits and 450 different graphics representing Portland’s river, bridges, and neighborhoods.
Hashimoto’s PDX artwork may be familiar to travelers. He also has his work displayed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), in the lobby of SFO Grand Hyatt.
A new concourse at Nashville International Airport too
Portland isn’t the airport that cut the ribbon on a new concourse last week.
On Friday, July 17, the first Southwest Airlines flight took off from Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) new $292 million Concourse D.
Features of BNA’s new Concourse D include: ✈️ 6 domestic aircraft gates ✈️ 115,000 square feet of terminal space with a fresh, modern look ✈️ 2 compelling public art installations ✈️ Wi-Fi ✈️ Gate seating with integrated device charging outlets (continued…)
It’s been a busy first full day of operations for BNA’s new Concourse D. Have a look! ➡️ PLUS: See lots of great photos of aircraft spotted at Concourse D today on our Instagram. We’re https://t.co/GoHrWXpgDA. pic.twitter.com/iJJznZjVfv
Poetry exhibit at Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Flying by? Make sure to check out: “Words In Flight: A Celebration of Orlando Area Poets” exhibit, themed with flight, travel and transformation poems. 📍 Level 3, near the Checkpoint for Gates 70-129 (by the Starbucks) 🗓️ Through September 30th 👉 https://t.co/FMUaduhyGUpic.twitter.com/6XF5DQixI1
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) July 14, 2020
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
“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.
