Random Art of Sea-Tac

Landing, 2005
Ralph Helmic and Stuart Schechter

Me + iPhone + 3 hour layover = tour of the random art of SeaTac!

I was stranded in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for three hours Friday with nothing to do, so I went on a little treasure hunt and catalogued as many of SeaTac's random art pieces as I could find. It was pure, childish fun. When you stop dead in the center of an atrium, stare straight up or down, and start snapping photos, a number of people follow suit - and notice the art for the first time. It's like leaving a wake of art appreciation behind you. You should try it the next time you have an annoyingly long wait in a public place.

Of course, Seattleites are relatively laid back. It's possible that stopping abruptly, snapping photographs of infrastructure, and mumbling to yourself might be foolhardy behaviors in busier, more security-conscious airports. But I managed to complete my tour unscathed and boarded my connection in a better mood than when I landed. Here's what I found - with a Seattlicious nature theme throughout.

Pantopol V , 1972
stainless steel
Ted Jonsson

cloudsandclunkers, 2006
cast iron, polymers, stainless steel
Peter Shelton

I really love this one. The "clouds" are suspended from the terminal ceiling, against a large window wall, and on a day with fluffier clouds they would almost appear to have wandered right in from outside. The "clunkers" are heavy metallic versions of the clouds, almost cocoon-like, which cluster in the inner corner on a series of steps.

cloudsandclunkers, 2006
Peter Shelton

On: matter, monkeys, and the king, 2004
Trimpin

Two mobile assemblages of gears and wires travel slowly back and forth along a glass-walled track, emitting quiet tinkling noises from Rube Goldberg-like musical contraptions made of repurposed toys. Weird!

on: matter, monkeys, and the king (details) 2004
Trimpin

York Factory A, 1972
oil on canvas
Frank Stella

Was totally unaware SeaTac had a Frank Stella. Despite the garish colors, it's surprisingly harmonious with the strong verticals of the walls, railing, and terminal architecture.

The next grouping is a row of nine mosaic columns beginning next to the security checkpoint. I didn't photograph all of them. The first one is the most impressive; it's also incongruously located between two bathrooms (like Stephen Colbert's portrait in the National Gallery).

Champion, 2004
mosaic on column
Peter de Lory

Untitled, 2004
mosaic on column
Susan Zoccola

Susan Zoccola's mosaic reminds me of plant cells. . .

(foreground) In Memory of My Father, Nai-ling Cheng, 2004
mosaic on column
Amy Cheng;
(background) The Naturalist's Day, 2004
mosaic on column
Joanne Hammer

Paradise, 2004
mosaic on column
Juan Alonso

Wings of Transition Seatac 9, 1992
mixed media
Norie Sato

This appears to be made of aluminum ladders with etched glass "wings" vaguely resembling mountain profiles. Better in person than in a photo.

Flying Fish, 1998
bronze and terrazzo
Judith and Daniel Caldwell

Inlaid in the terminal floor, only a small percentage of travelers appeared to notice these fish at all.

Landing, 2005
Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schechter

Suspended above a Starbucks kiosk (yes, it is Seattle), this stunning mobile is composed of almost three thousand tiny models of birds, fish, etc. suspended midair. From a distance, one can discern the shape of a snow goose swooping down to a lake, its reflection, and a series of widening circles in the water's surface. From directly underneath, the lights passing though the slowly shifting suspension wires make dazzling abstract patterns. This was by far my favorite piece in the airport - I was stunned that more people didn't look up from their coffee to stare at it! Lovely work. Check out this night view from SeaTac's website to really appreciate the bird profile.

Indiscrete, 1992
steel
Brian Swanson

A nifty, steampunk-inspired three-seated metal chair. Obviously gets a great deal of use - this is functional art. I like the contrast with the row of angular airport-issue chairs in the background.

Modern Mask, 1992
wood
Robert James Schoppert

Star Quarters, 1973
serigraph on mirror coated plexiglass
Robert Rauschenberg

SeaTac has a Rauschenberg too. Like the giant mollusc!

I thought I'd done well - but a quick check of the SeaTac website reveals I missed over half of the permanent collection of artwork. What? Good thing I have another layover Tuesday. . .