Flying Carpets at the Airport

I dropped in on the Tucson International Airport (TIA) today to check out the current art rotation as well as snap a few pics of some of the permanent installations.  I really like "Another Way to Fly", a set of 30 glass flying carpets ascending in a vortex.  This work is by Tucson artist Tom Philabaum.

The current rotating art exhibit down by the Terminal A luggage carousals includes a photographic exhibit "Blooms & Bugs" as well as paintings and sculptures featuring artists from the Tucson Mountain Artists Collective.

"Butterfly Spirit" by Ellen Sidor

"Portrait of Marion DeGrazia" by Ursela Gurau

"Portrait of Ted DeGrazia" by Ursela Gurau

You might want to click this one to get a bigger image.  Those are paint brushes in famed local artist Ted DeGrazia's head.

You may recognize the Pegasus from an evening picture of it that I posted earlier this year.

The upper link gallery area currently features laser etched aluminum sunset/landscape art by Lynn Rae Lowe.

"Angel with X-Ray Eyes" (2001) by Rose Johnson (left) and "Walking on Lightning" (1988) by Charlotte Bender

"Angel with X-Ray Eyes" (2001) by Rose Johnson

My picture doesn't do it justice, but this large painting was really nice.

"Illusion of the Familiar" (1988) by Gail Marcus Orlen and "Moving" (1990) by Gail Marcus Orlen

So that's a sampling of some of the cool art currently at the Tucson International Airport.  I'll repeat my past recommendation that there is some really good art worth seeing at the airport, both in the permanent and rotating featured artists exhibits (remember the now gone, but very cool cardboard guitars I posted pics of earlier in the year?).

I'm guessing that far too many people miss out on the current art, even if they are at the airport!  

If you're going to the airport anyway, try allowing a little extra time to wander around the upstairs and downstairs terminals.  Not flying?  Not picking anyone up?   Well you can still go, just like I did today, since most of the art is in the public area and not past the security checkpoints.  And it will only cost you 2 or 3 dollars to park.  Not a bad deal at all.

Here's what to do if you just want to visit for an hour or so...   Drive to Tucson International Airport.  As you approach the airport follow the signs for hourly parking.

The hourly parking lot, very close to the terminals, is currently $1 per 30 minutes.  Depending on the art on display and your interest in it, you might want to allow an hour to an hour and a half to view what's on display in the downstairs and upstairs terminals.

push button, grab ticket

there is usually parking pretty close to the terminal

I'd recommend starting at the Terminal A luggage and traveler reception area (left above), then heading left (still inside terminal) up the moving sidewalks to the second level, Pegasus horse, and then across both terminals on the the second level to view more art, the glass flying carpets (in the center area above), and then back down to the luggage pickup level.

You can grab a coffee at Ike's coffee at ground level in Terminal B if you want something to drink.  The airport is not that large, so its pretty pleasant wandering around.   On your way in or out, don't forget to check out the natural art (below) between the terminals and parking lot.

Once you return to your car, head out and pay based on how long you stayed.  Couldn't be simpler.

So, just to illustrate my point, today I went to view art at the airport, took pictures, did NOT see everything, stayed a little under an hour, and got out for a total of $2.00.  They are making a really good art effort here.

Here is the TIA Art in the Airport brochure.  A list of art exhibits currently showing at any particular time can be found here.  Enjoy!

To view all my posts regarding TIA Art in the Airport, click here.