SAN DIEGO–San Diego International Airport’s (SAN) Arts Program has launched its 2019 collective experience for airport travelers and visitors.
The Arts Program aims to infuse the airport with light, levity, comfort and enriching experiences. The program highlights the region’s rich cultural community through three components: Temporary Exhibitions, Performing Arts and Public Art. A new Arts Master Plan will carry these focus areas into the future with guidelines for the program’s continued innovation.
“At the heart of our Arts Program is to deliver inviting experiences through creative, visually appealing and memorable artwork and programs,” said Kim Becker, President/CEO of the Airport Authority. “Designed with the traveler in mind, we invite SAN users to pause, take a moment on their journey, and enjoy this uniquely San Diego experience.”
Temporary Exhibitions
Forces of Nature, the Airport Arts Program’s 2019 temporary exhibition is now on full display. The exhibition features artwork and collections that explore the complexity, fragility, and beauty of San Diego’s natural landscape. The yearlong airport-wide exhibition features distinct installations by 16 different artists and organizations.
Exhibition highlights include:
· Glittering mini universe sculptures created by Sasha Koozel Reibstein, in direct response to the brilliant and diverse landscapes of San Diego;
· Immersive plant installations by botanical artist Britton Neubacher showcase the inherent artistry in nature, encouraging the viewer to look from the perspective of the natural world;
· Suspended cardboard sharks painstakingly constructed from hundreds of precisely cut pieces of cardboard and flat reed individually fit and glued together by artist William Feeney.
Design AHEAD, a SAN Arts Program initiative launched in 2018 to engage the next generation of innovators, designers and artists, invites high school and college students to tackle real-world design challenges faced in the airport environment. Participating classes visit the airport for a public art and terminal tour, and take part in design charrettes related to a specific project. The students ultimately develop a project for an airport site that will enhance the experience of the traveling public.
The latest collaboration between the University of San Diego and SAN is now on display in Terminal 2 through the end of July. The program offered Beginning and Advanced Painting students an opportunity to create original artwork in varied media inspired by the airport and broader San Diego region over the course of several months. The resulting pieces range from inventive representations of the inner workings of the airport to imagery depicting regional wildlife with special consideration toward how travelers use the terminal space.