Art, airports and the long hours' wait

Last March I passed through the Atlanta airport with several hours to spare. Lodged in the International Terminal, I discovered that each waiting area had permanent installations of work by different artists, many of them regional. All media were represented: artquilts , ceramic, sculpture, mixed media, photography, intaglio prints, drawings, paintings, and children's art. As time goes by and chairs and benches get rearranged by weary travelers, the art surrounding them looks less like an interior designed installation and more like a modestly organized haven for those who wait. Shown at right: Photography/etched metal art, possibly by Vicki Ragan. Apologies- my notes are not complete.

These were remarkable, large-scale portraits by Joni Mabe, combining photography and mixed media items like glitter. The gate "desk" gives a sense of scale. Mabe has made many handmade books and is obsessed with Elvis art, as this link for public broadcasting Atlanta shows.

monoprints and cut out figures by Larry Walker (above)
ceramics and sculptural totems below by a different artist.

Then, some large-scale intaglio cityscape prints (etchings). The installation included detailed descriptions of techniques as well as a framed original etching plate (right.)

And lastly, a grouping of various framed art quilts, the only waiting area devoted to multiple artists.