George Peters and Melanie Walker: Airworks Studio

You Might Recognize:

Milk Splash - Dairy Block Alleyway 19th Street between Blake & Wazee Streets, Denver, CO

Sky Bridges - Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville, Florida

Turning Leaves - McGraw/Hill Headquarters, Canary Wharf, London, England

Twist & Sprout - University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Art Dept. Columbine Hall

Public Art Average Success Rate:

Maybe 20%

 Rejected Project Proposal

Proposed Project Location:

A major US airport

Concept:

The site was for a United Club. The project came shortly after we received a polite letter of rejection when we were finalists and presented our proposal for a new B Concourse expansion. We did not get that commission in the airport's public area but later were informed of interest in our work for the United Club lounge above the concourse. This was a more challenging area over a stairway and escalator entryway to the upstairs club. The volume was large and technically difficult but we dove into it with excitement... especially after the disappointment of losing the previous public area airport suspended art commission.

"I Regret to Inform You..." Artist Response:

The art committee for the project actually chose one of the three concepts that we presented and awarded us the commission. We were waiting for the contract when we were told that there had been a sudden change in the decision. Apparently, one of the higher up committee members had left the decision making to the art committee to attend to more important matters. After the decision this former member decided to return to the committee and rejected the choice of our proposal for unknown reasons. The artist agency we were dealing through were very apologetic saying this was a very rare event and felt really disappointed about this change.

We had never run across anything like this before either. Rejections are hard but having both proposals scrapped was double difficult. Despite it all, we chose to take it in stride and celebrate the fact that we did not have to make the work or deal with the higher ups in the management. Will we ever apply for another airport project again? Yes, we probably will. We are eternal optimists. We have to be... we're artists.

Additional Thoughts:

Being aerial sculpture artists with that being the overall theme of our studio, we have applied to countless airport public art projects over the years and have the stack of rejection notices to prove it. Our works move, fly, use wind and air currents and skies as background. We make kites and fly them at festivals around the world. We make mobiles, sail sculptures, winged sculptures, wind vanes. banners, flags and 'wind gardens'.

The winds have taken us to the outside. It is a more public place than the hallowed halls of galleries and museums. The sky is our gallery. We have enjoyed the playful and spirited celebration of the earth's breaths for many years.

Finally, in 2011, we received our first 'you have been selected for the airport' telephone call. It was for the Jacksonville, Florida International Airport. The site is a beautiful huge space that is the connecting bridge from the ticketing desks to the concourses. Jacksonville is a city of bridges. Airports and airplanes make bridge arcs through the sky to destinations near and far. We made colorful trusses arching through the entire space of the bridgeway. They even gave us a show in the airport art gallery (what a concept... all airports should have one!) for the dedication of the "Sky Bridges'' commission. We showed our art kites there. We were very pleased with the work and many friends have told us that they walked under our artworks there at the Jacksonville Airport and loved our piece hanging overhead and reflecting colors throughout the bridgeway.