Art

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.

Airport art pop-up + charming ‘going nowhere’ video.

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Air travel seems to be every-so-slowly edging its way back to (a new) normal. And we can’t wait until it does.

But here are a couple of airport-related items we noted today that don’t relate to being in the air.

The first is from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), which hosted an art show in its parking garage.

And if you haven’t seen this yet, take a minute to watch Dana Nicole Jondahl’s hysterical and on-point vacation video.

Her real birthday trip is canceled this year due to the coronavirus. Instead, she charmingly and skillfully recreates the experience of going to the airport, going through security, getting on a plane, and heading off for a trip – in her home. And she plays all the parts herself.

Our favorite bits in the video? The automatic sliding doors of the ‘airport’ and the cloud balloons. Yours?

Airport attractions we miss: Changi Airport

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As we enter another week of staying off the road and close to home, we find ourselves missing the fun of hanging out in airports that go the extra mile to make the terminals enjoyable.

With lots of greenery and gardens, cool shops and restaurants and plenty of entertaining art, Singapore’s Changi Airport is one of the best.

Here are just a few of Changi’s treasures we look forward to seeing on a future trip.

A Million Times at Changi

Kinetic Rain sculpture

Light & Sound Show – Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport

What airport attractions are you missing?

Reassurance from a robot at Pittsburgh Int’l Airport

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As the COVID-19 crisis continues, airlines are grounding aircraft and cutting flight schedules. And fewer and fewer travelers are passing through airports.

But in most cities airports are considered essential facilities. So they remain open.

One example: Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), which must stay open not only for the remaining commercial flights currently flying, but because it is home to two military bases: U.S. Air Force and Pennsylvania National Guard.

Anyone passing through PIT airport right now will find it quieter than usual.

But they might notice something different in the art installation known as “Fraley’s Robot Repair.”

Toby Fraley/Blue Sky PIT

Atticus Fraley created this storefront robot repair shop and sometimes makes changes to the items inside.

His most recent addition was to give a robot a hand-lettered sign with an inspirational message for this stressful time:

It says: “Dear Humans, you CAN do this – Robot.”

Let’s hope so!

Heathrow seeking “Most Instagrammable” title

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Airports are a competitive lot.

And London’s Heathrow Airport is on a mission to become the world’s most Instagrammable airport.

In an effort to grab the title, Heathrow has commissioned the street artists behind four of the most Instagram-famous murals in the world to recreate their work in its terminals. 

The campaign brings together new renditions of Colette Miller’s iconic angel wings in Los Angeles (above), Rogue One’s ‘Floating Taxi’ in Glasglow, Alice Pasquini’s ‘Above the Lines’ in Rome, and Odeith’s ‘Anamorphic Frog’ in Lisbon. 

The installations are in Terminals 2,3,4, and 5 until this summer. And the airport is hoping that travelers will snap photos of themselves and friends with the images and post them on Instagram to help Heathrow move up from 2nd-most Instagrammed Airport in the World, past South Korea’s Incheon International Airport to #1.

It just may work.

Each artwork measures between 10 and 16 feet, so will be easy to spot. And each is very selfie-friendly.

The pieces are also strategically placed in terminals that have flights to their original street art location, which means that many passengers may also go and see the original and get their photos taken in both places.

Heading that way? Send us your Instagram photo with one of these images at Heathrow.

Curious about which airports are on the “Most Instagrammed” list?

Here you go.

WORLD’S MOST INSTAGRAMMED AIRPORTS

  1. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
  2. Heathrow, London, England
  3. Schipol, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  4. Sheremetyevo, Moscow, Russia
  5. Haneda, Tokyo, Japan
  6. Singapore Changi, Singapore
  7. Gatwick, London, England
  8. Narita, Tokyo, Japan
  9. O’Hare, Chicago, USA
  10. Dubai International, UAE

The street art will be at Heathrow terminals 2,3,4 and 5 in the departure lounges, after security, until the summer. See what people post by following #Heathrow on Instagram.