Art & Design on the fly...

Growing up, my father worked for United Airlines and we would fly the friendly skies every few summers or so to go see relatives on the East coast. Some people hate airports and flying, but, ever since I can remember, I have not only loved to fly, but I loved the whole experience in itself.... The packing, the anticipation, the waiting. Yes. The waiting.

What better way to get an insight to the myriad of cultures and customs and languages and dialects and and and....need I say more?

The AND is where the beauty lies. Beyond the fact that these structures, these airports full of bustling humanity and aircrafts needing to get from point A to point B without a hitch, needs to be designed in the most efficient way possible, as to make traveling a bit more smooth and a less stressful experience.

This is done by designing airports in a way that we are not merely waiting on a flight, we are in the middle of an experience. We passengers are surrounded with glistening, gleaming, futuristic portals that help further our escape to (or from) wherever we are but reminding us we are not home. There is beauty in this functionality, if we are willing to only see...


We are given expensive gastronomic cafe choices, and pricey alcoholic temptations that we willingly fork over as if to say "Ya. I'll have that...I'm on vacation...."

So we begin our journeys, with pastry and coffee and perhaps a rum & coke pre-flight in Trader Vics, and we can also note that the airport is filled with visual feasts as well. Not only engaging our noses and bellies, our eyes can rest upon some of the most amazing examples of 2 and 3 dimensional art that is flavored with local talent. In spaces as large as these, art can run along the walkways, fill a myriad of glass cases, or hang in Goliath proportions from the high ceilings. These pieces represent the best of local and historical art and your wait in the airport becomes a mini-museum visit.

This morning, I sit in San Francisco International and admire such work...

The first two pieces, "Namon House", are made of powder coated steel, created by Joyce Hsu, who is a local Bay Area artist. These mechanized fantasy insects and flora are a "fusion of science & nature". The artist wanted them to rest there, at SFO, in their transit home, much as we do when we are ready to "take flight" to our next destination in life.

The second piece, "Salty Peanuts", is by Bay Area artist Mildred Howard and is made of steel and over 120 saxophones. this piece was made in honor of the San Francisco jazz traditions and history.

More can be read and admired here:

http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/atsfo/art/





Happy, safe travels, friends....