Exhibits at BNA®

Air/Traffic/Control
Artist: Ivan Toth Depeña
Location: BNA Terminal Garage
Dedicated: December 2018

“Air/Traffic/Control,” designed by Ivan Toth Depeña, is installed in each of the six elevator lobbies at the Nashville International Airport’s Ground Transportation Center and Terminal Parking Garage in Nashville, Tenn.

The project was inspired by the complexity and mechanisms of the traveler’s journey. Taking inspiration from flight patterns, data, cartography, movement and sound wave forms, Depeña created an original artwork using light and glass to transform the typical column into a dynamic, responsive and interactive experience for the airport traveler. Each level is tied together visibly using a vibrant and intricately abstracted art work that is laminated within the colored glass. The compositions are generated specifically from flight paths and translated sound waves.

The project utilizes the general flow of the commuters and the movement within the elevator lobbies to activate the art. LED components produce a visual response and act as a cognitive representation of the movement and circulation. The physical form of the column appears to transform the color and energy of the motion as the viewer walks and interacts with the piece, creating an ever-evolving public art installation.

Ivan Toth Depeña is an artist who is currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C. With a Masters Degree in Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Depeña’s artistic production is informed by his experience in art, architecture, technology and design.

Celebration
Artist: Jorge Yances
Medium: oil on canvas
Location: BNA® Administrative Offices, Level 6
Dedicated: Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Award-winning artist Jorge A. Yances was born in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and educated in the United States. He was labeled a creative prodigy by art aficionados at a very early age. During his teenage years, he fine-tuned his creative expression using a variety of techniques and finishes. Yances is a resident of Nashville, Tenn., and has a long, successful career creating and selling his artwork. Yances’ work has been on display and in demand throughout the United States, South America and Asia.

Yances’ unique style gives the viewer the opportunity to sense and feel more than one reality. The power of mind and matter intermingle and come to life on the canvas. This ability has earned Yances a premier position in the Magical Realism Movement.

About Celebration
The city strikes a particular chord in the hearts of those who come to Nashville with visions of a destination, not merely a place to visit. “Celebration” embraces and invites each viewer to awaken to the rhythm of our city; to come closer and see themselves reflected as a part of our story.

Distinctive Nashville imagery that initially draws the audience to the painting for a photo or selfie becomes, in close proximity and upon examination, a discovery of phantom spirits tucked away and peering out, beckoning – a powerful signature element of the Realismo Mágico style.

The magic of Nashville welcomes and unites many voices, songs, stories, cultures and perspectives. Welcome to Nashville!

Every New Day is the Best Day of Our Lives
Artist: Brian Tull
Medium: Vinyl printed on sheetrock. Imagery by Adrian Ramirez/EyeEm via Getty Images
Location: Concourse D, Gate 6
Installed: 2020

Neon: nostalgic and Nashville-fitting. This imagery is a snapshot of the travelers’ visit to Nashville as they depart, and a comfort to the locals heading to a distant place. The movement and excitement of color in this art installation represents our hopes in this city, BNA, aviation, and our and desire to keep traveling and moving forward.

The title, “Every New Day is the Best Day of Our Lives” is inspired by my daughter, Olive, who reminds me that every new day is the best day of my life.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nashville-based artist Brian Tull uses both oil and acrylic paint to create photorealistic images that embody a tone of wistfulness, nostalgia, and ease through allegory. Tull’s work combines his fascination of a bygone era, a time that he believes to have been “…simple, more genuine and honest,” with his truly sensational ability to render the real world.

Lyrical Journeys
Artists: Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee
Media: Steel, walnut wood and LED lighting
Location: Concourse D, Gate 2
Installed: 2020

Lyrical Journeys” was designed by RE:site Studio’s Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee (Houston, Texas) as a public art homage to the sights and sounds of Nashville. Measuring 90 feet long and 17.5 feet wide, “Lyrical Journeys” is constructed from 14 pairs of steel bridge plates and 20 linear strings of LED light, which create an interactive experience for travelers.

The LED light strands brighten and darken in rapid succession as passengers walk beneath, creating the impression that they’re strumming the light strands as they would an instrument.

The bridge plates are a metaphorical celebration of Nashville’s musical, geographic and cultural identity: specifically, the many bridges that span the Cumberland River; songwriting, which frequently invokes bridges leading to a song’s climax; and stringed instruments, which use bridges to support their strings and produce musical sounds. Finally, the bridge plates symbolize Nashville’s identity as a focal point that connects people from all over the nation and world, echoing BNA’s role as a bustling transportation hub.

“Lyrical Journeys” was recommended to the BNA Board of Commissioners by a six-member Arts at the Airport Foundation Board selection committee. Nearly 70 submissions were received from public artists around the nation.

Across Country
Artist: Matt Goad
Medium: Terrazzo
Location: C/D Concourse Node
Installed: 2023

“Across Country” weaves airplanes and musical instruments together through a red, white and blue color palette. The title refers to traveling across the U.S.A. and the music genre that Nashville is famous for. The three stars and colors represent the flag of Tennessee, and the column stands for “The Athens of the South,” Nashville’s nickname. The swirl motifs are a nod to the popular carpet design that was replaced by the terrazzo floor. The design is intended to convey travel to and from Music City in the motion and movement of a two-step.
-Matt Goad

American artist Matt Goad began his art career while working as a graphic designer and illustrator in the mid-1990s. Woodblock printing and its hard-edged graphic aesthetic helped inform his modern style which he would take into the realm of paintings in the 2000s. Passionate about color, composition, and telling a story, his geometric approach leads viewers through a compositional narrative. His work is easily accessible to the public and enjoyed by many --  young, old, and across cultural identities.

In 2021, Goad’s design, “Across Country,” was selected by BNA stakeholders from over 60 national and international entries.

Better Home Awaiting
Artists: Jairo and Susan Prado (Prado Studio)
Medium: Terrazzo
Location: A/B Concourse Node
Installed: 2023

“Better Home Awaiting” references the history of Music City with a nod to WSM, the country’s first FM radio station, first airing the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, a precursor to the Grand Ole Opry. The Ryman Auditorium was the Opry’s home from 1943 to 1974, originally built by riverboat captain Thomas Ryman as a permanent house of worship for the city after his powerful conversion experience at an outdoor tent revival led by revivalist Samuel Jones in 1885. Its role as “The Mother Church of Country Music” was profound, and from its colorful stained glass windows and wing-like central arch window flowed countless songs from Country, Western, Bluegrass, Folk, Gospel and Americana legends.

One beloved nightly Opry tradition remains; the singing of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” a gospel altar-call hymn written by Ada R. Habershon in 1907 and popularized after the Carter Family’s revised 1935 recording. The chorus asks, “Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, Lord, by and by? There’s a better home awaiting, in the sky, Lord, in the sky.” This reference to the idea of flight and of coming home is depicted in the medallion design as a passenger jet takes to the Nashville sky, its sun resembling a rustic slice of Tennessee Maple wood. The circle theme is repeated with the pattern of records, inspired by Nashville’s own historic United Record Pressing, founded in 1949 and the largest record pressing operation in North America, not only representing country music industry superstars but also pressing the jukebox hits of Motown, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles’ very first 7-inch 45-rpm vinyl.

“Better Home Awaiting” was designed by Nashville-based artist team Jairo and Susan Prado, who have an established history of creating award-winning large-scale architectural mosaics, public art installations and private commissions. They collaborate with local, regional and national organizations, institutions, builders and architects in the planning and fabrication process of custom artworks and installations in a variety of mediums. Their work is vibrant and symbolic, reflecting the stories, cultures, and creative vitality of the city and its people.

The terrazzo medallion design commission was awarded to the Prado Studio by a panel of community jurors in 2021 after an international call for submissions by Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s Arts at the Airport program. The artist team collaborated with BNA representatives and fabrication team at David Allen Company (Raleigh, N.C.) to facilitate the two-year design and installation process.

Nashville's Rhythmic Skies
Artist: Eric "Mobe" Bass
Location: BNA International Arrivals Facility
Installed: September 27, 2023

Crafted and painted by Nashville’s own Eric “Mobe” Bass, “Nashville’s Rhythmic Skies” is a mural spanning over 1000 square feet that celebrates the vibrant culture of Nashville and the thrill of air travel. The mural serves as both a tribute to Nashville International Airport’s history and as a reflection of the rich culture, icons, and beauty of Music City itself, narrating a compelling story. The primary medium employed for this installation is artist-grade spray paint, providing a unique texture and appearance unattainable through other media.

“Much like a song, this mural beckons viewers to connect, ponder and uncover their own significance within the soulful rhythms of Nashville,” says Nashville artist Eric “Mobe” Bass. “Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned adventurer, Nashville’s Rhythmic Skies stands as a reminder that each journey is a distinct melody ready to be explored in the heart of Music City.”

Discover more about Mobe Studios

On Air
Artists: Jake Elliot and Eric Mobe Bass
Location: BNA® Terminal Garage 2, Ground Level
Dedicated: Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The mural “On Air” is a play on words, paying homage to the rich musical history of our city and to the role aviation plays in building our strong culture. “On Air” acts as a window from the airport into the city, pulling viewers into a depiction of a recording studio, overlooking the state-of-the-art BNA airport and iconic Nashville skyline, and inviting them to step up to the mic.

This piece was designed to give Nashvillians and visitors a fun, interactive, and snapshot-worthy experience, turning what is normally a passive, mundane activity (waiting) into something that builds memories and captures the spirit of our city.

“On Air” is a collaboration by two accomplished Nashville-based artists, Jake Elliott and Eric “Mobe” Bass. Their public art pieces can be found throughout Nashville from Charlotte Avenue to East Nashville.

Jake is the founder of WHAT. Creative Group, an arts organization focused on engaging public art pieces and Jake has a strong studio practice. Eric is a recognized muralist, known for his deep understanding of color, light, and spray precision. His murals can be seen all around Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

The Stars Come Out at Night
Artist: Guy Kemper
Fabricator: Mayer of Munich
Project description: This sculpture is composed of 12 four ft. x eight ft. Italian glass smalti mosaics with gold accents.
Dimensions: Mosaics measure 384 square feet total and are mounted on columns 30 inches in diameter.
Location: Entrance, Consolidated Rental Car Center (CONRAC)
Installed: 2021

For nearly a century, Nashville has been a destination for those seeking stardom or wanting to see a star. The legacy of Nashville's performers reigns over the skyline, and every night the story is refreshed anew. Some join the pantheon of legends, others are merely blips–shooting stars and one-hit wonders. The city is also a booming mix of other industries. Elegant and understated, this artwork reflects the emerging cosmopolitan nature of the city and emulates the night sky enjoyed by air travelers from above and below.

Due to construction on the Terminal Lobby's Central Core, this artwork will go into storage. "The Unscalable Rampart of Time" will be reconfigured with the artist and reinstalled at the completion of the Central Core project.

The Unscalable Rampart of Time
Artist: Jacob Hashimoto
Installation and site-specific development: Superabundant Atmospheres
Location: Grand Lobby Entrance, Nashville International Airport®
Installed: January 2023

Materials
9,000 kites – handmade washi paper (mulberry paper) and bamboo kites
4,800 fiberglass rods
More about the kites:

• Each kite circle measures 9-inches in diameter
• Some of the kites are printed with colorful images, including 650 unique graphics representing Nashville and Middle Tennessee
• Rivers, grasses, plants, trees and flowers are represented at the bottom of the sculpture
• Architecture, music, business, education and cultural symbols are positioned above the water, grasses, etc.
• The white kites represent the sky, clouds, aviation, planes, airports and travel

Artist statement

"In the specific case of 'The Unscalable Rampart of Time,'  I want to invoke a framework of history for the viewer, both future and past. The title encourages people to consider their own place in a cloud of histories and of souls moving through the airport, unified by shared experience of time and place (Nashville). People traveling through the airport are on their own paths, but we can only know our personal pathway (hence, the unscalability). I believe that the airport is often a space of reflection and solitude, and that there is comfort in seeing the cloudy rampart of time and experience."

Wind Reeds
Artist: Ned Kahn
Location: Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC) exterior
Dedicated: 2011

For the BNA project entitled “Wind Reeds,” artist Ned Kahn was inspired by a landscape of windswept reeds.

Kahn has completed a series of artworks that reveal invisible forces in their sites by converting natural flow patterns, such as wind, into the pixilated motion of many small metal parts. He calls these artworks “detectors,” because they are analogous to the detectors on telescopes and other scientific instruments. The typically unseen patterns of the wind are complex and entrancing. The psychological effect is similar to watching a fire, waves on a lake or tall grasses swaying in the wind.

The Wind Reeds sculpture covers a portion of the Consolidated Rental Car (CONRAC) facility with more than 500 hinged aluminum elements that sway in the wind like grasses. The surfaces of the metal panels capture color from the sky and the surrounding environment, creating an ever-changing mosaic of sky and wind currents.

The artwork is uniquely tied to the atmosphere and climate of Nashville, drawing its energy and animation directly from the moment-to-moment conditions of the local environment.

Kahn states, “My hope is that the artwork will function as a register for the ever-changing wind and create a unique kinetic portal for Nashville that will remind people of the magic and mystery of the world that we live in."