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December 7th 2022 | Written By Press Release | Share

West Michigan Artists Invited to Submit Proposals for Aerial Art Installation at Ford International Airport

West Michigan Artists Invited to Submit Proposals for Aerial Art Installation at Ford International Airport

Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 6, 2022 – The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is requesting proposals for a permanent hanging art installation to be displayed in the newly expanded Concourse A.

Located above the four terrazzo flooring art installations, the suspended art will be intentionally visible from many angles, creating a sense of circulation. The piece will be enhanced by a clerestory space, allowing natural daylight to intensify its features.

Designed by architect Jorge Barrero of HKS, Concourse A will mimic the experience of arriving in West Michigan. Artists should aim to complement West Michigan’s identity from the blue of Lake Michigan and the natural tans of the dunes to the greys and purples of the urban core to the greens of the forests and farmland in between.

“Concourse A has been designed to represent the journey to and through West Michigan,” said Casey Ries, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority engineering and planning director. “We have been extremely thoughtful about the placement of art throughout our public space, choosing for this installation to be suspended from the stunning sawtooth ceiling, which was designed to capture natural light in the modernized concourse. The hanging art piece is critical to accentuating our unique sense of place – welcoming all to West Michigan!”

Thanks to support from the Frey Foundation, the Ford International Airport will continue to invest in the local art community to feature the diverse talents of West Michigan through its public art program. Artists interested in submitting proposals can find more information at flyford.org/elevate/opportunities. Proposals are due by January 15th, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Submissions for wall art will be opened at a later date.

About the Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the second busiest airport in Michigan, serving business and leisure travelers with nonstop and connecting flights on six airlines. The Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. For more information, visit www.flyford.org or follow the airport on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @FlyGRFord.

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Topics: Press Release, Art