Photographs and quilts make up the newest exhibits at two airports.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), “Believe in Me: Dancing from the Inside Out” includes 15 photographs that show teen dancers from Moving in the Spirit, an Atlanta, Ga.-based dance organization. The group uses the art of dance to educate, inspire and unite youngsters ages 3 to 18 and helps them become passionate leaders.
“As a professional photographer, my passion is to use imagery to inspire feelings of hope and belief,” artist J.D. Scott said. “For over 10 years, I’ve photographed many performances and practice sessions at Moving in the Spirit. I believe my artistry is most alive when I create photographs that tell the ‘real’ story of people moving in the spirit.”
The exhibit can be found in the Atrium until Sept. 28.
“Art lovers of all ages will enjoy the beauty of these images,” says Katherine Dirga, Hartsfield-Jackson’s Art Program manager. “Looking at these portraits, you can really see the dreams and energy alive within each child.”
At Miami International (MIA), seven quilts by award-winning textile artist Amy Vigilante are on display at the Central Terminal Gallery on Concourse E, just past the security checkpoint.
The artist taught herself to sew as a way to calm her fears during the 2004 hurricane season. She started cutting up pieces of fabric she had begun collecting, piecing one together by machine during Hurricane Charley, tied the quilt during Hurricane Frances, escaped to New York during Hurricane Ivan and started a new quilt during Hurricane Jeanne. The result is “Seven Minutes in Heaven,” constructed as traditional quilts with her signature hurricane tracks stitched into them.
“Vigilante is an artist who creates her designs based on her own experiences and surroundings, down to the names of the quilts – all named after small dogs belonging to family and friends,” says Yolanda Sanchez, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Division’s director of fine arts and cultural affairs. “Sometimes the patterns are chaotic and sometimes calm, just as the uncertainty of a hurricane, yet always a symbol of warmth, safety and comfort during troubling times.”
