Airport art

100 Music Legends in 1 Mural At New Orleans International Airport

Alaska Airlines canceled our direct flight from Washington, DC to Seattle, WA on Sunday. And the rebooked route home gave the Stuck at The Airport team the gift of a 7-hour layover at New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

That gave us plenty of time to check out the fun shops, the bars, and the restaurants.

And all of the art.

We could identify just a few of the people pictured in this three-panel mural. And we’ve reached out to the airport for a key or list of them all.

In the meantime, let us know how many musicians you can ID in this great mural by Richard C. Thomas, called The Roux, which depicts 100 music legends from New Orleans.

Update: Here’s a brochure sent to us by MSY Airport that includes a list of all the people featured in the mural:

What’s Inside The New Terminal A at Newark Liberty Int’l Airport (EWR)

We haven’t been there in person just yet. But we’re delighted to see the photos the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is sharing of the new $2.7-billion terminal Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

The new terminal replaces the old Terminal A which first opened in 1973 and features fresh passenger amenities, impressive artwork, digital technology, and more than 60 regional dining and retail outlets representing national, global, and local brands.

Stretching out over more than one million square feet, the new Terminal A at EWR has 33 gates, and common-use check-in, security, and baggage claim areas built to easily handle an estimated 13.6 million passengers a year. Flights for Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jet Blue and United Airlines will operate out of this terminal.

The seating areas are diverse and inviting. And the kid’s play areas look like so much fun.

Fresh Art in Terminal A at Newark Liberty Int’l Airport

And then there’s all the art. The work of 29 local artists is included in the terminal, with two major pieces serving as permanent anchor installations.

Karyn Olivier’s aluminum and stainless steel work, titled Approach, is made of up two 50-foot suspended sculptures that celebrate flight with different views of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey in daytime and at night.

Between the Future Past, a mural by Layqa Nuna Yawar, celebrates the diversity of Newark, New Jersey, and the New York metropolitan area.

Photo by Zack DeZon, Courtesy Public Art Fund NY

More details to come once we get in there and walk the terminal from one end to the other.

(All photos courtesy Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, except where noted).

Toy Airplanes at St. Louis Lambert Int’l Airport

Fans of toy airplanes will enjoy the Toys Take Flight exhibit on view through the end of March 2023 in the Lambert Gallery at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).

“Toy airplanes have been around longer than airplanes themselves,” the exhibit notes tell us. “The earliest model airplane, a glider powered by a rubber band, was created in 1871, 32 years before Orville and Wilbur Wright took their first flight. Through countless fads, innovations, and technological advances, toy airplanes have endured as a testament to humankind’s fascination with flight.”

Here are just a few of the toy airplanes on display at STL Airport.

Look for more toy airplanes on exhibit at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in the Lambert Gallery. It is located in Terminal 1 near Exit 11, close to the C Concourse Exit and is accessible to the public.

TPA’s Flamingo Needs a Name

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is hosting a contest to pick a name for the impossible-to-miss, 21-foot flamingo that now lives in the airport’s main terminal.

The artwork is by artist Matthew Mazzota and is officially titled “HOME.” But TPA would like the flamingo to have its own name. And they’ll give a nice prize to the person who proposes the best name for the big bird.

Along with christening TPA’s big pink bird, the contest winner will win 4 nonstop, roundtrip tickets for themselves and 3 companions on Silver Airways. The prize also includes a VIP Experience package to Busch Gardens, including 4 single-day admission tickets, 4 All Day-Dining passes, 4 Quick Queue Unlimited passes, and preferred parking.

Here’s how the contest works:

From Tuesday, November 29 until Tuesday, December 6, anyone may submit a suggestion for the flamingo’s name at www.NameTheFlamingo.com. One entry per person.

Contest participants will need to briefly explain on the online form why they chose the name they are submitting.

After the contest closes, TPA will select the top three names. And starting December 12, the public will be able to vote on their favorite name. The winning name will be revealed on Friday, December 16.

Have any great ideas? Something better than Spot or Freddy Flamingo?

Travel Tidbits

Better rest times for flight attendants

On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration finalized rules requiring airlines to give airline flight attendants at least 10 hours of rest time between shifts.

Under existing rules, flight attendants get at least nine hours of rest time. However, due to a variety of circumstances, that time off often ends up being much shorter.

Fresh Art at John Wayne Airport

A new exhibit at John Wayne Airport (JWA) in Santa Ana, California features ceramic art by Hawaiian artist Randy Au.

“Vegetable Series” is inspired by Au’s love for nature. The ceramic shapes are inspired by squash gourds that are glossed and gilded in gold. The intricate designs are inspired by Oriental, Egyptian, and American culture and history. 

Look for the exhibit post-security in the Thomas C. Riley Terminal at John Wayne Airport, between Terminals B and C, across from Gate 14, until March 2023.