Huntsville International Airport Provides Outlet for Local Artists
Huntsville’s expertise in aerospace and missile defense has always been on full exhibit for visitors to Huntsville International Airport.
Works of local artists are on display at Huntsville International Airport’s Artway. (Photo/Steve Babin)
Now, thanks to a partnership between the airport and Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, travelers will be greeted by artistic expressions of Alabama’s rich Southern culture and breathtaking landscapes created by artists from across the Tennessee Valley.
Alabama Sen. Arthur Orr joined Huntsville International Airport CEO Rick Tucker and Carnegie Visual Arts Center Executive Director Kim Mitchell for the unveiling of two inspirational art galleries at the airport.
The Airport Artway is on the second floor of the airport terminal, directly above the airline ticket counters and baggage claim.
The opening exhibit is entitled, “Friends and Family of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center.” The gallery features of work from 15 local artists in a variety of mediums from traditional paintings and sculpture to mixed media.
The art gallery can be viewed anytime free of charge and will welcome new works every quarter.
“Huntsville International Airport is pleased to partner with Carnegie Visual Arts Center on our brand-new Airport Artway and Community Art Wall,” said Tucker. “We are excited to utilize our facility to continue to allow people from all over the world to experience a part of our community while visiting HSV.
The Artway is on the terminal’s second floor, above the ticket counter. (Photo/Steve Babin)
“We are hopeful that this will encourage them to stay a little longer, come back and visit again, or take a piece of North Alabama home when they go.”
The airport also unveiled a Community Art Wall in the breezeway connecting the airport to the parking garage on the second level.
This quarter, the Community Art Wall is featuring a series entitled “Therapy Through Art.” It features art created through the Carnegie Center’s outreach program with its partner, the Mental Health Center of North Alabama. The artists in this series were students of the late Jason “JBird” Sharp, a well-respected Decatur artist.
“The Carnegie Visual Arts Center is excited to partner with the Huntsville International Airport to showcase local artists and community outreach programs like the Mental Health Association art therapy program,” said Mitchell. “This is a great opportunity to share with everyone the growing art community in our region.”
The airport will host artist receptions each quarter when a art series is unveiled.
