Airport Artwork

[Tronhard]

Vancouver Airport is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful that I have come across. Apart from the normal amenities it has an excellent collection of artworks spread across the facility. Since I will be spending about 10 hours there soon I decided to find out exactly what there was to look at, and hopefully capture. I was amazed at the depth and breadth of artworks available. If you are considering going there and have some time to kill I recommend looking up the collections at the following link and getting some shots.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/about-yvr/art browse the menu of artifacts from first nations and Innuit.

Here are a couple of shots I took on the fly (no pun originally intended but I'll take it anyway). If you want details on them the link above shows them along with a detailed commentary.


At the arrivals area, as you enter the customs and immigration zone


Turning 180 degrees, one sees this 6m solid wood carving


This is a huge work, must be 8m along the base, and very hard to capture because of the infrastructure around it.

IF ANYONE ELSE HAS GREAT IDEAS FOR AIRPORT ARTWORKS IN THEIR PART OF THE WORLD, POST THEM - IT MAKES THE JOURNEY MORE FUN IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND PHOTOGRAPH.

[Donald]

What a wonderful thing to see an airport investing in art in this way.

And as for this:-

At the arrivals area, as you enter the customs and immigration zone

Having recently entered the US at Los Angeles airport, this seems sheer bliss. Of all that is wonderful and great and about the US (and there is so much) the international arrivals process at LA is NOT one of them. I am already suffering from back and arthritic hip problems and two hours in the queue in the hot and claustrophobic customs and immigration zone at LA was hell on earth. Indeed, I was so soaked in sweat from pain that people thought I was going to collapse. I did as well. Eventually, one of the staff on duty took pity on me and fast-tracked me through. Otherwise I think I would have been there for at least another hour.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[Tronhard]

This will sound unkind and a generalization, but I have never had a good experience going through US airports. I find them dirty, poorly signposted and usually under renovation. A friendly local explained that the airports were all built quite a few decades ago and upgrading them is a big challenge, something I could appreciate, but other airports manage to keep the facilities clean and the signs displayed.

My own experience with LAX was the first time I flew from NZ to Vancouver (in the days before I could get a direct flight). As I got out of the international terminal after a long processing time, I was looking at a map to find the next terminal I needed for my flight to Canada. A fellow came up and asked if I needed some advice (as you do). I thanked him and explained where I needed to go. Having pointed out the terminal he said "that will be $5". I was so gob smacked I just blurted out the truth that I had no US money. "what have you got?" he demanded. When I explained I had NZ$ he snarled, "That's no good to me!" and stalked off.

When I was going back to NZ via San Francisco the place was a shambles as it was in the midst of renovations. There were NO signs pointing out the way to the gate I had to go to. I did see a sign that read "Information" above a make-shift booth. As I went over, a voice reminded me of my last experience, so I asked if they charged for directions. It turns out they did... As it happened a couple of US Marines heard this and came to my rescue -kudos to them!

Now I fly direct from Vancouver to Auckland - it's a great flight in either direction as it's over-night. I just pop a sleeping pill and wake up at the appropriate time.

[madcrow]

I never would have thought you see art in an airport. Nice series.

[Mike Buckley]

I've seen sculptures, ceramics, paintings, color photography and black-and-white photography displayed in various airports.

[Dave Humphries]

~ was a shambles as it was in the midst of renovations. There were NO signs pointing out the way to the gate I had to go to. I did see a sign that read "Information" above a make-shift booth. As I went over, a voice reminded me of my last experience, so I asked if they charged for directions. It turns out they did...

I knew the US valued it's reputation for 'customer service', I just didn't realise you had to be a customer (i.e. pay them money) to receive it!

[Tronhard]

I guess free enterprise will fill a service vacuum...

I knew the US valued it's reputation for 'customer service', I just didn't realise you had to be a customer (i.e. pay them money) to receive it!

[Tronhard]

If you know of any ones that you liked in particular, please know you are welcome to share them on the thread.

I've seen sculptures, ceramics, paintings, color photography and black-and-white photography displayed in various airports.

[Jimr1961]

Donald & Trev, if you think our airports are something, you should experience our Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Oh, and customer service in the U.S. died a slow and painful death some time ago. It started in the 1970's when service stations stopped providing service so you had to pump your own gas, then slowly succumbed when menu driven auto-help recordings started sending you in circles (our government has the circular menu down pat). It was buried when grocery stores gave you the "privilege" of checking your own arse out.

[IzzieK]

The friendliest airport I have ever been in my travels is the New Zealand and Australian airports, sometimes can be a bit busy but then those two airports spoiled me so much that I find US airports to be lagging behind in many things, especially in the smiles department...And oh, I have lived here in the US for far too long to remember and I will never get used to the chaos of the airports here. It is a very stressful atmosphere where everyone is in a hurry to go somewhere and the customs people are the most arrogant, sometimes condescending and straight faced. No smiles at all.

[Donald]

To leap to the defence of US airports, I suspect it's in the big international airports that we identify our problems. That applies in the UK as well. Heathrow in London is NOT where you'd want to spend any amount of of time.

Regional airports, such as Fresno, California, which I've just been through, can be a delight. Staff in Fresno were polite and friendly and interested in me and what I'd been doing in the US. The place is full of Yosemite-related artworks (e.g. prints of Ansel Adams images) and, in my experience, was spotlessly clean, light and airy.

[Dave Humphries]

Sorry Trev, I seem to have diverted your thread

Anyone got any airport art images?

[Mike Buckley]

Anyone got any airport art images?

I've photographed some but don't have any keepers for the reasons explained by Trevor that so often make the process so difficult.

[Tronhard]

Auckland airport is another favourite: for example there is free tea and coffee for you while you are in the luggage claim area, although my baggage comes out pretty fast. When I go through customs and immigration you get a friendly "welcome home" from the officials. Also, all staff are trained in the Haka, the traditional challenge of the indigenous Maori. If a NZ dignitary, or sports team returns to NZ the officials leave their booths and do the Haka to honour and welcome them. The police and military are also required to learn the challenge - I like that...

Right now NZ is celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Jean Batten who was a pioneering aviatrix. Her aircraft is actually hung in the concourse of the airport, and Air NZ recently flew an all-female flight crew on its route from the UK to NZ to celebrate Battens own journey.

Batten's Gull Aircraft (Not my photo) above the international concourse

The friendliest airport I have ever been in my travels is the New Zealand and Australian airports.

[Wavelength]

Nice set of images