Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Museum Monday: Creatures at Atlanta airport

Art, Exhibits, , , ,

Alligator, by Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Courtesy Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Promised gift from Carl and Marian Mullis

“All Creatures Great and Small,” an exhibit from the Georgia Museum of Art’s permanent collection and the collection of Carl Mullis, is on view at the T Gates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport through Summer 2012.

Minnie Adkins & Large Red Fox

The exhibit features art depicting animals created by well-known, self-taught American artists such as Howard Finster and Mose Tolliver and by Michael Crocker, Willie Jinks, R.A. Miller and O.L. Samuels.

Here’s a great documentary made by the museum about many of the artists.

Georgia Museum of Art presents All Creatures Great and Small from Georgia Museum of Art on Vimeo.

Tidbits for travelers: connect at the airport

Airports, Layover, Mobile phones, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel tips, , , , , , , ,

If you’re heading to or through the Dallas/Fort Worth or Atlanta airports there are now money-saving reasons to make sure your smartphone is charged and accessible.

DFW introduced a program that links the Foursquare and Facebook Places location-based mobile applications to 85 (so far) of the airport’s concessions. Now if you check in when you’re at the airport you’ll see deals and discounts offered at food outlets and shops right around you.

For the next several weeks, you’ll notice “brand ambassadors” in the terminals telling people about the service, teaching them how to use it and handing out giveaways.

Back in April, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport introduced discount offers available via quick response (QR) codes printed signs around the airport.

The QR codes direct passengers to the airport’s mobile website — www.iflyatl.com — where there are downloadable discount coupons.

The TSA is also using QR codes. According to a recent post on the TSA Blog,  the agency is testing QR codes on checkpoint signage at a few airports to point travelers to information about lost and found, customer service, procedural information and travel tips.

 

At Atlanta Airport: no reason to be bored or rumpled

Airport shops, , ,

Technology is our friend at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

In addition to videophones for the deaf and hard of hearing that are being installed on all concourses, near north and south baggage claims and in the rental car center, ATL airport has installed a MiMuzicBox kiosk (on Concourse T) that allows users to quickly download music, movies, audiobooks and other entertainment to their own electronic devices.

Far more intriguing is the new U*tique.

Described as an “automated luxury retail outlet,” this giant vending machine on Concourse A sells 50 kinds of make-up, hair and skin products and has a touch-screen offering video demonstrations and information about each product.

So no excuses for looking rumpled at the airport.

At Atlanta Airport: Jazz in the Atrium

Entertainment, Music, , ,

The 2011 Atlanta Jazz Festival takes place Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30, and to get in the mood, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is holding its 10th annual Jazz in the Atrium series from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each weeknight through May 27th.

Here’s what’s coming up.

May 19: Goodfellas

May 20: The Ojeda Penn Experience

May 23: Tommie Macon and the Gentle Men of Jazz

May 24: After Hours Quintet

May 25: Marlon Patton

May 26: Charles Marshall, “The Jazz Ambassador”

May 27: Life Force

 

Airports offer fresh art for travelers

Airports, Art, Exhibits, , , ,

If you enjoy spending your leisure time visiting art galleries, but instead end up wasting time in airports, you’re in luck. This season, many airports around the country are hosting intriguing temporary exhibitions and unveiling new permanent public artwork that can turn a long layover into a cultural adventure. Or at least keep you from getting bored.

Here are a few highlights of fresh airport art from my current “At the Airport” column on USATODAY.com.

Included in the story is the  “Environmental Steward-ess” outfit Nancy Judd of Recycle Runway made out of old leather seat covers from Delta Air Lines.

 

There’s also a new exhibit at New York’s Albany International Airport. In Keeping Time, seven artists explore nostalgia with “an eye for its intimate, humorous and often bittersweet nature,” says Sharon Bates, director of the airport’s art and culture program. Included in the show are paintings, several large site-specific installations and collages made from old paint-by-number paintings.

It's in the Book - by Ken Ragsdale

 

And, at Florida’s Jacksonsville International Airport, there’s a fun exhibition titled Kites and Flights with work by Melanie Walker and George Peters.

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Sneak peek at Environmental Steward-ess

Air Travel, Art, Environment, Exhibits, , ,

Under the name “Recycle Runway, ” Nancy Judd makes couture fashion out of trash. One example: this western-style cowgirl skirt and vest made by weaving pages from old phone books. Pages from old directories have also been applied to the cowgirl hat and vintage “pee-wee” cowgirl boots. Used CDs create the silver accents on the outfit.

cowgirl outfit made of old phone books

Judd’s work has been displayed at airports in Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Albuquerque. And later this month, 18 eco-trash couture garments will go on display at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Of special interest will be this flight attendant uniform titled Environmental Stewdard-ess.

Judd_Environmental_Stewardess

Judd says:

“The uniform, hat and purse are sewn from worn-out leather seat covers from Delta planes. The cape is made from replaced safety cards, Sky Magazines, old plane tickets, and pretzel wrappers all cut into strips and sewn onto worn pillow cases. The cape was then lined with a discarded Delta blanket. Both the cape and purse appear to fly in the wind thanks to armatures created from metal wire used for yard signs during the last presidential election. Recycled aluminum cans were used to create the vintage Delta symbol on the purse, hat and belt.”

Some holiday helpers at the airport

Air Travel, Entertainment, Fun Stuff, Holidays, Layover, Shopping, , ,

If you end up getting stuck at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or Denver International Airport during the busy holiday travel season, go hang out in the lobby.

Courtyard by Marriott has set up Lobby Zones at each airport complete with comfy seating and complimentary charging outlets.  Atlanta’s Lobby Zone will be open until December 31; Denver’s until January 31.

During this holiday season, many airports have also set up free gift wrapping stations. So if you’re stuck at the airport, go ahead and take care of the last minute shopping and let volunteers wrap those gifts for your before you get on the plane.  If you shop at San Diego International Airport this year, Volunteer Airport Ambassadors will wrap your gifts in this fun paper featuring artwork created by area students.

Tibits for travelers: Free Wi-Fi at Nashville Airport; new exhibits at John Wayne and Atlanta airports

Airports, Art, free Wi-Fi, , , ,

Free Wi-Fi at Nashville International Airport

Free Wi-FI at airport


Someday there will be free Wi-Fi at all airports.

In the meantime, we keep score and take what we can get.

Here’s one to add to the list: “Soon,” says the October 2010 newsletter from Nashville International Airport, passengers will be able to get 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi access in the food courts, meeter-greeter waiting areas and in some restaurants.  The airport is also planning to add charging stations for electronic devices.  If you’re a member of BNA’s Frequent Parker Program or a valet parking customer, however, you can get free Wi-Fi anywhere in the terminal – for 15 minutes.

Add that to the 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi everyone gets and you’re getting somewhere…

New photography exhibits at Hartsfield Atlanta and John Wayne airports

JWA exhibit Witches House built by Vernon Baker

A new exhibit at John Wayne airport on display through January 2011 features images of classic architecture around Orange County, California.  The images are taken from architect Richard Dodd’s book “Architectural Styles – Orange County”, and display historical homes and buildings from Mission San Juan Capistrano to the famed Witches House in Laguna Beach, which is pictured above.

For more photos from the exhibit, see the slide show on the John Wayne Airport‘s website.

The Airport Show at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

In honor of Atlanta Celebrates Photography Month, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s Art Program has teamed up with the Atlanta Photography Group for The Airport Art Show, an exhibit of traditional, documentary-style and modern photographs in the airport atrium.

ATL ART Show

Want to see more photos? In addition to the exhibit at the airport, there are more than 150 photographic exhibitions and events showcasing the work of more than 400 photographers taking place this October throughout metro Atlanta.

“The Airport Show” is in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atrium Gallery through November 17.

See airport guides for these airports and 47 others on StuckatTheAirport.com.

More cute airport pet parks

Air Travel, Layover, Pets, , , , , ,

Earlier this week I posted a picture of the cute sculpture in one of the pet relief areas at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Pet relief area ATL

ATL pet relief area

And the smart park at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

PHX pet relief area

PHX pet relief area

Both are pretty doggone cute. But the folks at Reno-Tahoe International Airport felt left out – so they sent me a note about the spot they’ve set aside for Spot.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport pet relief area

RNO airport pet relief area

It’s hard to tell how cute the park is -but I love the name: Bark Park.

And here’s the park for pets at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Austin Airport pet relief area

Austin-Bergstrom Airport dog park

Have you and your pet found an airport pet relief area that’s fancy AND functional?  Let us know and we’ll try to sniff out a photo and post it here.

Cutest airport pet park?

Air Travel, Pets, , , ,
Sculpture at Atlanta Airport pet relief area

Artwork at ATL pet relief area

In response to a law that’s already a year-old, airports throughout the United States are putting in fenced, pet relief areas outside – and in a couple of cases, inside – the terminals.

It’s a welcome amenity for pets and their people. And although they don’t have to make the parks look lovely, many airports have created parks that are doggone cute.

The photo above is from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Cute, right?

Here’s a shot of one of the pet relief areas at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport:

Bone Yard pet relief area at PHX

PHX Bone Yard for pets

I’m gathering up more photos and will share them soon. But in the meantime, please nominate the nicest-looking or most convenient airport pet relief area you’ve found in your travels.  We’ll add it to the list and try to get a photo.