Less Dash, More Cash: JFK Plans to Trash Major Artwork
We usually sing the praises of all types of airport stuff, but most of the time we’re focusing on the lounges, restaurants, or other perks that make this airport or that airport better than the rest. However, there’s another airport feature that we often neglect, and that’s airport art installations. Sure, sometimes they’re a little much or a little weird—we’re looking at you SMF with that baggage claim rabbit—but all in all they usually make up the little things that round out the overall airport experience.
New York’s JFK isn’t exactly known for being on the cutting edge of airport technology, but there is one piece of art that’s putting up a fight to stay put. Airport and airline officials were thinking about sending Star Sifter off to the scrapyard, as the plan was to create some more room for a few new fast food joints. Now there’s a little bit of a fight to save the sculpture, as the artist behind the work—Alice Aycock—isn’t on board with her masterpiece being destroyed to make space for more greasy food.
The New York Times goes into all the juicy details about who is fighting to keep what, and what they’re doing about it. However, the basic premise is that removal of the art installation would violate a contract signed around the time the thing was installed at the airport—around twenty years ago. So it’s pretty much part of the airport as far as many are concerned. Some even argue that the sculpture provides some sort of screen above the security area, preventing passengers from passing—or tossing—naughty stuff to others waiting to clear the security on the floor below.
It sounds like the battle will continue in the courts for way more time than is necessary, but we’ll try to keep you posted. We’ve got to say that the sculpture is hardly groundbreaking art—in our opinion—and it’s not necessarily as historic as some of JFK’s other vintage treasures. However, it has been part of JFK for longer than many airlines, so maybe just leave that thing there.
[Photo via: Alice Aycock]
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