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PRESS RELEASES
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Outdoor airport sculpture by international artist featured at RDU RDU Airport, NC --- The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has commissioned Chapel Hill artist Patrick Dougherty to create a whimsical oversized outdoor sculpture. The artwork will be completed during the holiday season and will remain on the airport for one year. It is located on a grassy hill adjacent to the main entrance of RDU's new parking deck. Dougherty is known for his talent to create sculptures from natural materials. He has been working on the project for three weeks gathering maple and elm saplings and weaving them with his signature style into five 18' tall elements, resembling vase shapes with human gestures. Dougherty was inspired by the architecture of the new parking deck, particularly the large light cones that mark the ramp areas, and chose the grassy area in front of one cone for his work. "Working with Patrick to create a public sculpture for the airport has been a positive experience" says Teresa Damiano, Director of Marketing and Art Master Plan administrator for the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority. "It has been exciting for both airport staff and travelers alike to watch this work take form and grow over the past few weeks. We are delighted that art can contribute to our focus of providing a pleasant customer experience." Dougherty has created site-specific sculpture around the country and the world. Most recently, he has completed works at Atelier 340 in Brussels, Belgium, the Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and stage set for Luyala, and original opera performed at Duke University. An article about his work is in this month's Smithsonian Magazine. Dougherty's sculpture is one of many art experiences at the airport this holiday season. Thousands of travelers have been entertained by A Holiday Edition, the airports' annual performance series. They have also enjoyed Stephen Cote's The Flying Machine, an intriguing sculpture installed near the Authority's administration office and rental car complex. Other art installations include Heath Satow's Dream Of Flight, which was recently selected for permanent installation in the lobby of a new general aviation terminal, scheduled to open in early 2002. Seagrove, North Carolina artists Drew and Linda Krouse, in collaboration with Asheville artist Robert Johnson have been selected to fabricate a tile application in the underground tunnel connecting Terminal A with the new parking garage. The work will depict North Carolina's Coastal, Piedmont and Mountain regions through a series of panels that tell a story of the state's natural resources and of the work to preserve the natural beauty in the state. From the performance series to temporary exhibitions and permanent installations, the Airport Authority seeks to create a positive experience for its customers by supporting the integration of the arts into its public spaces via its Master Plan for Art. |
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