HSV launches Airport Artway and Community Art Wall
HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville International Airport unveiled a new attraction Wednesday morning. The grand opening of the Airport Artway and the Community Art Wall was held this morning. An artist reception will be held this evening.
For the first exhibits, the Airport Artway’s “Friends and Family of the Carnegie Visual Arts Center” will showcase paintings, sculptures and mixed media pieces by 15 local artists. Artists include Samuel Barnett, Mitch Koon, Gayle Strider, Sloane Bibb, Robert Belcher, Alison Turner Belcher, Mary H Reed, Robin Roberts, Cym Doggett, Shelley Paulson, Kay McWhorter, Kay Lewis, Dariana Dervis Art, Rickie Higgins and Frances Tate.
The Community Art Wall’s “Therapy Through Art” will feature works created by the Carnegie’s outreach program at the Mental Health Center of North Alabama and under the direction of the late Jason Sharp.
The display includes a variety of mediums like traditional paintings, sculpture, and mixed media.
The exhibits are free and will change quarterly. The Airport Artway is located on the second floor of the airport’s terminal building, and the Community Art Wall is located in the breezeway connecting the airport to the parking garage.
“Huntsville International Airport is the North Alabama community’s gateway to the world,” said Huntsville International Airport spokesperson Jana Kuner. “Visitors arriving at HSV can see right away that aerospace and missile defense are core components of this community with Redstone Arsenal and NASA featured prominently. The airport also wants visitors to see and be eager to experience the natural beauty of this region’s parks, the educational opportunities offered by the many museums and the talented artists that are inspired to create masterpieces here each and every day.”
Because of this, Huntsville International Airport chose the Carnegie Visual Arts Center to display art from the region’s rich and diverse creative community, Kuner said.
“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. This is a great opportunity to share with everyone the growing art community in our region,” said Kim Mitchelll, Carnegie Visual Arts Center Executive Director.
The Airport Artway is a quarterly exhibit displayed on the second floor of Huntsville International Airport’s terminal building. This area is located just above the airline ticket counters and baggage claim.
The new Community Art Wall is located in the breezeway that connects the airport to the parking garage on the second level. This area will display art created by budding artists in the North Alabama community and is a reminder that anyone can be an artist.
“Huntsville International Airport is pleased to partner with Carnegie Visual Arts Center on our brand new Airport Artway and Community Art Wall”, said Rick Tucker, Huntsville International Airport CEO. “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. 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 public is invited to the artist reception this evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Kuner said this will be an opportunity for the public to mix and mingle with the artists on display. Artist receptions will be held each time a new series is unveiled.
