art at airports

Travel Tidbits for the holiday weekend

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 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen more than 18 million passengers at U.S airports over the Memorial Day travel period, which stretches from May 23 to May 29, about 6.4% more than in 2023.

If you’re one of the holiday travelers, here are some fresh art and amenities to look for at airports along the way.

Art at LAX Airport

It’s been about a year since LAX finally created an airside connection between all its terminals. That means ticketed passengers don’t have to go back through security to make a connecting flight in another terminal and can access all of the airport’s shops, dining venues and art.

Among the newest art installations at LAX is “Flora (Flores amplificati), by Laura Hull.

For the installation, Hull digitally manipulated and layered photographs of plant life commonly found in Southern California to create a digital mural printed on vinyl. Look for it in the hallway that connects Terminals 1 and 2 post-security.

Find a full list of all the permanent and temporary artwork at LAX on the LAX Art Program site.

(Laura Hull, “Flora (Flores amplificati),” Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports)

Beer – and more – at Bradley International Airport (BDL)

Beercode Kitchen & Bar has opened at Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, CT just in time for the busy holiday weekend. The gastropub is open in the Gates 21-30 concourse and is the first sit-down restaurant on that concourse. It’s open by 4 am daily for breakfast and has a lineup of local craft beer and other beverages.

Creatively Remade art objects at Denver Int’l Airport

Denver International Airport’s (DEN) newest exhibition, Creatively Remade: Upcycled Art and Design, features a wide range of art, fashion and functional objects made from materials that would have otherwise been discarded. 

The exhibit stretches through several areas of the airport, including Ansbacher Hall (before A-Bridge security), Concourse B East between gates B60 and B62, on level three of Concourse C, and east and west baggage claim.

Here are just a few of the pieces you might see.

Science snaps on display at Rapid City Regional Airport

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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

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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

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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

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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 Valentine, which 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

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 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 Guild, The Denver Metro Modern Quilt Guild, The 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)

5 Things We Love about Oregon’s Eugene Airport

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Eugene Airport (EUG)

Oregon’s Eugene Airport (EUG) is also known as Mahlon Sweet Field and was named in honor of Mahlon Sweet. He was the automobile dealer and aviation enthusiast who built the city’s first airstrip – Eugene Airport Park – in 1919.

Today, EUG has 10 gates and is served by 7 air carriers – Alaska, America, Avela, Allegiant, Delta, Southwest, and United – and offers direct flights to 14 cities.

Here are 5 Things to Love About EUG Airport

1. Free Short Stories

EUG is one of a handful of airports around the country that hosts a Short Story Dispenser from French Publishing House Short Édition.

The dispenser at EUG is in a prime location: right at the top of the stairs on the way to the busy A Gates and is offered in partnership with the Eugene Public Library.

Passengers may choose one of three buttons and request a local, international, or kid’s story. Once a selection is made, a free short story or poem is printed right away on an ink-free, eco-friendly strip of paper.

2. A Great Art Collection at EUG

A mural-sized version of a license plate that benefits the Oregon Cultural Trust is on display near the A Gates. Travelers are invited to search for the 127 Oregon cultural symbols featured in the artwork.

The airport has plenty of other art throughout the terminal, including a changing gallery of work by adults in the Oregon Supported Living Program; a collection of images taken from data collected by University of Oregon researchers in astronomy, biology, and other sciences; and a fun multi-site work called “Flight Patterns,” by David Joyce that features almost life-sized photos of people in various mid-flight poses.

3. Rocking Chairs

EUG offers seating with power ports, seating at high tables, and, of course, banks of traditional airport seating.

But the most coveted seats at Eugene Airport, as at many other airports, are the rocking chairs.

4. Big Duck Statues

A handful of the 6-foot-tall fiberglass ducks that were once part of an art installation around town back in 2002 have waddled their way to the airport.

5. Souvenir Sasquatch Poo

There are lots of local and regionally-themed souvenirs to buy in the airport shops. But one of the most popular items is Bigfoot Poop.

5 Things We Love About Eugene Airport is part of the ongoing 5 Things We Love About .. series on Stuck at the Airport. Let us know if you’d like us to add your favorite airport.

Airport Arrivals: Burning Man +Beyoncé

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Reno-Tahoe International Airport loves the Burners

Burning Man 2023 is underway in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. And about 20,000 of the 80,000 or so attendees make their way to the event through Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).

The airport is an old hand at welcoming and sending off the festival goers.

So, when the party is over, on September 4, the airport will be ready with plastic bags to wrap dust-encrusted luggage and other checked items to make sure playa dust doesn’t get tracked through the terminal and muck up the baggage systems. There will also be donation sites for camping gear Burners don’t want to take home and the bikes Burners brought or bought to get around the playa.

Photo op: Beyonce’s “BeyHive” at San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport

Beyoncé will be performing at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on August 30 and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), which is just five miles from the stadium is ready with a special event for Queen Bey’s ‘BeyHive,’ as her fans are known.

“XO” is one of the singer’s hit song titles, and it is also the name of a new art installation at the airport created by Bay Area artists Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg for the Burning Man Festival, and dedicated at SJC earlier this year.

The structure is comprised of two 12-foot-tall aluminum letters, perforated with bird cutouts symbolizing flight, and is illuminated with color at night. 

To welcome Beyoncé fans flying in for the concert, SJC airport will be hosting an event for fans to get free professional photos taken in front of its “XO” public art sculpture. 

The event will take place on the Airport’s Terminal B curbside beginning at 7:00 PM on August 29th.

The commemorative color photos will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis by a professional photographer and will be available on the spot along with other fun giveaways from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., or while supplies last.  

(XO images courtesy of San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport and City of San Jose)

Frontier Airlines has Taylor Swift tickets + more travel tidbits

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Ready for the weekend?

Listen to a podcast series about the role of Latino history and culture in aviation and space. Take an airport art tour. And enter Frontier Airlines’ sweepstakes to win a trip to attend a Taylor Swift concert.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has launched “AeroEspacial,” a limited series of its “AirSpace” podcast that focuses on stories of Latino history and culture at the heart of aviation and space.

The four-part series is being produced in both English and Spanish and follows the museum’s 5-part “QueerSpace” series, which was released in February 2022.

Here’s the “AeroEspacial” Episode Schedule

  • July 13: In the early 1960s, thousands of unaccompanied children fled Cuba by plane, moving to the United States on visa waivers from the U.S. government. This episode explores the role of aviation in Operation Pedro Pan.
  • July 27: Arecibo Observatory is the pride of Puerto Rico’s science community. Following the devastating collapse of the observatory’s radio telescope, this episode explores the history, science and social importance of Arecibo.
  • Aug. 10: Latino Futurist artists use their mediums to imagine futures unlike the present, using art to create a society that is whole and inclusive in a way reality is not. This episode explores art from Latino creatives at the intersection of space and culture.
  • Aug. 24: In recent expansions of the Star Wars universe, Latino actors and storylines have taken center stage. From Arturito to “Andor,” this episode explores the past and present of Latino representation in Star Wars.

Here’s the QueerSpace podcast list:

Art tour at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) now has a virtual art tour that highlights the airport’s art collection of 17 two-dimensional pieces of art and three-dimensional sculptures, all representing the themes of textiles, technology, and water.

There are QR codes located near each art piece in the terminal that link to an audio description of the work, information about the artists, and the significance of the artwork within the region. The art tour is also accessible via the GSP airport website.

Taylor Swift fan? Frontier Airlines is giving away two tickets

Frontier Airlines has launched a sweepstakes to give away tickets to Taylor Swift’s August 7 The Eras Tour show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

The winner will receive two concert tickets, two roundtrip flights, two nights of lodging, and $500 in spending money.

https://twitter.com/FlyFrontier/status/1679522662245101568?s=20

Happy 25th Anniversary to PHL’s Art Program

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 Congratulations to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and Director of Guest Experience/art program curator Leah Douglas, on the 25th anniversary of the airport’s award-winning Airport Exhibitions Program.

Since 1998, local artists and arts organizations have filled PHL’s terminals with more than 500 unique exhibitions.

“PHL has a unique opportunity with its global audience to promote Philadelphia’s unique treasures to the world – its arts, culture, and history,” said Douglas. During the 25 years of the program, Douglas has drawn on the talents of local artists, the region’s cultural and creative organizations, and the holdings of the city’s museums to keep the art exhibits at PHL airport fresh, inviting, and inspiring.

Some of our favorite exhibitions include the Bottle Clock and the time PHL invited local people to display their special collections.

Beer Bottle Clock

PHL offers 32 exhibitions annually in 16 locations throughout the airport and has four locations where the artwork remains on view long-term. There are also live artist demonstrations.

So if you’re passing through PHL airport, don’t just sit at your gate, go see some art.

For a bit of encouragement, check out the “PHL HeART Scavenger Hunt Challenge” developed by Eric Dale. Twenty-five hearts made by local street artist Amberella are hidden throughout Terminals A-East and A-West. Guests finding 10 or more by following clues on QR codes can win prizes.