What’s Your Favorite Work of Public Art?
What’s Your Favorite Work of Public Art?
I loved creating Old Growth (2016) for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. At no point did I feel I had a full grasp of the piece, so it never lost the anticipation of discovery. Every time I climbed up into its canopy, I would think, “This is nuts.” I think that was a good sign. ~Hoss Haley, sculptor, Spruce Pine, NC
Miami International Airport presents artwork that reflects the region and alleviates the stress of travel. Harmonic Convergence (2011), an interactive work by Christopher Janney, does this by capturing the light, color, and sounds of our South Florida natural environment, while Peace & Love (2013) by R&R Studios presents a universal message that reminds travelers of what is most necessary in our turbulent times. ~Yolanda Sánchez, former director, Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs Division, Miami International Airport
British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor puts his art into the sea on behalf of environmental health. Sculptures in his 2009 project MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) off the coast of Cancún, for example, draw snorkeling and scuba-diving tourists away from endangered reefs nearby and offer a new place for coral to grow. ~Karen Olson, executive editor, Public Art Review, Minneapolis
My favorite work of public art in Philadelphia is Common Threads (1998), a mural by artist Meg Saligman. People from everywhere pause in respect and wonder at the mural’s huge scale, its rich assortment of colors, and its dramatic composition. Through extraordinary painting, Common Threads unites allegory and portraiture in a complex narrative about the things that connect us across generations and cultures. ~Jane Golden, executive director, Mural Arts Philadelphia