So That's Why
I have always wondered why the Denver airport has so much goofy modern art all over the place. Even the subway tunnels have art on the walls (I must admit I am kind of partial to the little fans on the outbound train trip). There are replicas of paper airplanes hanging from the ceilings, a fountain that is supposed to model the Front Range, and a fake Mayan temple in one terminal concourse. It turns out that Colorado has a law that says that 1% of the budget for public building construction has to go for art. Given that the airport costs overran to $4.8 billion, that was a $48 million boondoggle for every goofy public artist that could pull up to the trough.
ElamBend:
I was always partial to the statue of the Astronaut/Congressman.
February 14, 2008, 1:28 pmjt:
I'm sure not *every* goofy artist qualified. No doubt, you also had to be the low bidder, too.
February 14, 2008, 1:30 pmLarry Sheldon:
That airport nearly killed me (literally).
Now I see why.
February 14, 2008, 2:05 pmArtD0dger:
Hey! We're very proud of our airport art.
You seem to have mistaken darkly sinister for "goofy."
February 14, 2008, 5:10 pmla petite chou chou:
I'm not even 100% sure what that mural is supposed to be symbolizing...But HELL! I would have put up some art for them at a reduced cost. They should've asked me.
February 14, 2008, 7:18 pmla petite chou chou:
I'm not even 100% sure what that mural is supposed to be symbolizing...But HELL! I would have put up some art for them at a reduced cost. They should've asked me.
February 14, 2008, 7:19 pmAZVicki:
It's my understanding that Arizona has the same 1% deal. Haven't you noticed the artwork at new freeways, etc.?
February 15, 2008, 6:41 am