Brushstrokes in Flight - Port Columbus International Airport - Columbus, OH
Posted by: 
Mr. 0
N 39° 59.906 W 082° 53.073
17S E 339126 N 4429284
Located in Concourse B of Port Columbus International Airport. It has been placed just before the security checkpoint to allow all the public to view the sculpture. Coords taken at the top level of short-term parking.
Waymark Code: WM1KV2
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 05/28/2007
Views: 175
"Brushstrokes in Flight," was created by
Roy Lichtenstein in 1984, which is located in Concourse B directly in front of the security checkpoint. Lichtenstein is better known for his graphic novel illustrations than 3-dimensional art. He had previously produced a few sculptures, but the city was concerned that they may not have chosen the right man for the job, even if he was a graduate of Ohio State University. The sculpture wasn't well received by the public, but it wasn't poorly received either. Most people just really didn't know what to think of it, so little was said about it.
It was originally installed outside the airport, but due to its location many people didn't know it was there, or couldn't get close enough to view it if they wanted to. In the mid-1980's, then Mayor Dana Rinehart, tried to give the statue away to Columbus' sister city of Genoa, Italy, as a return gift for a statue of Christopher Columbus. The public was upset by this because even though little was said about the artwork after its dedication, they didn't want one of their most recognized pieces of art just given away. It was established that Rinehart didn't have the authority to take such action, so it stayed in Columbus. Eventually, in 1998, it was moved inside to its current location.
In speaking with the TSA representative sitting next to the sculpture, she was curious as to why I wanted pictures, since it just looked like a "broken banana" to her. She said that was the best explanation she could come up with even after years of sitting next to it every day. I guess people still don't quite know what to think about it.
In addition to this piece, Port Columbus has become known as somewhat of an art center. They also feature artwork from children in local schools as well as other pieces of abstract art. All children traveling through Port Columbus can pick up prepaid, self-addressed blank postcards and crayons so they can draw their travel experiences and send them back to Port Columbus to be displayed in the terminal, or online.