Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe local arts community was up in arms in November 2011, when the Indianapolis Airport Authority removed the “Chrysalis” artwork on the bulkhead above the main bank of escalators at the airport.
James Willie Faust’s work of art was replaced by a 22-foot-wide video screen that displays video art—and advertising to help the authority generate more income.
Passenger traffic had plunged and the authority said it needed the money to bolster sagging revenue.
To some artists, it was a crass, profane act they won’t forgive anytime soon. The authority is nevertheless planning to display more art on the massive LED panel. Running through June is Barry Anderson’s “Lawn Ornaments” work that creates a bug’s-eye view of a slow march across a suburban lawn.
Anderson has a master’s of fine arts in photography and digital media from Indiana University.
The airport also is adding new non-video artworks, including a hand-blown glass and metal sculpture display by Clayton artist Lisa Pelo known as “Fluid to Petals,” in Concourse B.
Meanwhile, art is being added at the north and south ticket hall display cases at the entrance to Civic Plaza.
The airport authority spent $4 million on art collections from 17 commissioned artists and six poets for the midfield terminal.•
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.