Public Artwork at BOI
by Karen Bubb
Thanksgiving kicked off the heavy holiday travel season at Boise Airport. If you’re one of those traveling through BOI this month, take time to look at the art throughout the building. The work commissioned for this municipal airport relates to our local environment and the travel experience. In the past year, the Department of Arts & History installed two new artworks you can view before heading through security.
Along Rivers Edge, by Anne Peterson
In the ticketing lobby on the large wall to the east, Anne Peterson’s painting entitled “Along the River’s Edge, ” was exquisitely reproduced on a 56’ wide x 25’ tall vinyl mural. The work is inspired by countless hours the artist spent alongside the Boise River as her father fly-fished. While nature is clearly represented, it also serves as metaphorical symbols. The intertwined branches illustrate our connected community; the light coming from behind suggests the promise of Boise’s future.
The pedestrian bridge extending from the parking lot to the second floor of the terminal is a conduit to the promise of or transition from the travel experience. Whether you’re en route to somewhere else, returning home, or picking up others, you experience the magic of traveling through the sky–through clouds and airplane contrails. This new public artwork by Maine artist Seth Palmiter incorporates etched patterns of floating clouds on the existing window surface and a translucent acrylic mobile of suspended shapes representing contrails of a passing airplane. The artwork is entitled “Sky Bridge” and celebrates the wonder and thrill of traveling through the sky.
Also look for other artworks displayed at the airport:
- “Boise Wings,” by Adam Leventhal – neon wings on the parking garage as one enters the airport
- “World War II Aviator,” by Benjamin Victor – a bronze sculpture of a World War II aviator outside the lower exit
- “Flying Into the Seasons,” by Louise Kodis – a fabric mural of Baldy Mountain in Sun Valley on the west wall of the ticketing lobby
- “Reticulated Horizon,” by Lawrence Ko – a glass wall sculpture by the security entrance
- “Terra Firma,” by Elizabeth Wolf – terrazzo floor medallion on the baggage claim floor
- “The Tree of Life,” made by Mexican master artists as a gift to the City of Boise – in the downstairs lobby by “Terra Firma”
- “Slipstream,” by Kelly McClain – blown glass fish at the exit of the secure area
- “Special Olympics Cauldron,” by Irene Deeley – steel structure outside to the east of baggage claim area
Happy holidays and safe travels!
