Copper Roof Inspires Exclusive Prints for Airport Art Event

The historic copper roof of Terminal 1 at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has been an architectural inspiration for nearly 60 years. Now it’s become an inspiration for art. In the process of replacing the original copper roof this year, the Airport has saved a few green patina copper tiles to share with St. Louis area print studios. Artists are using the copper to create exclusive prints for the 4th Annual Art of Travel fundraiser, benefitting the Lambert Art and Culture Program.

The Art of Travel, presented by Spire Natural Gas Fueling Solutions, will celebrate the growing arts scene at the Airport in Terminal 1’s B Concourse from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 2. Tickets are $75 and available via www.flystl.com/artoftravel. The event raises funds to support the Airport’s acquisitions of permanent artwork and temporary exhibits.

The Lambert Art and Culture Program commissioned three presses,The Firecracker Press, Amanda Verbeck with Pele Prints, and Gina Alvarez with Yellow Bear to each transform one of the weathered, historic tiles into printmaking plates. Each press has developed its own imagery using the nostalgia and mystery of travel as its only prompt. The Firecracker Press, Pele Prints, and Yellow Bear have employed a variety of processes to alter the tiles, allowing the 60 years of weathering marks to be forever impressed into these pieces of fine art. From paper airplanes to woodcuts using wood salvaged from the 2011 Good Friday storms, the three presses are letting the copper inspire them to experiment and create innovative and exciting works of art. The evolution of each print is being documented in a blog, http://flystlprints.wordpress.com. The prints will only be available at the Art of Travel event.

In addition to exclusive copper-inspired art, the event will feature a silent auction of additional prints by three print studios and several art experience packages provided by the Foundry Art Centre, Painting with a Twist, The Preston Art Glass Studio, Craft Alliance and others.

The theme of this year’s Art of Travel celebration is the film-noir and fedora style 1940s. Gourmet chefs from across the country will prepare signature cuisine throughout the night along with ‘40s inspired cocktails. Swing dancing demonstrations will entertain guests who are encouraged to dress up for the occasion. The chefs appear courtesy of global restaurateur HMSHost, a world leader in travel dining. HMSHost operates a large number of dining venues at Lambert, and is part of Autogrill S.p.A. – the world’s largest provider of food and beverage services for travelers.

More than two dozen other businesses and corporations are sponsoring the Art of Travel, which is helping to transform the Airport with local and international works, bringing a new sense of place for visitors and local residents alike. The Lambert Art and Culture Program launched more than four years ago during The Airport Experience, the Terminal 1 renovation campaign that concluded this year. Since 2011, 13 major works of art have been installed in terminals and concourses including nine art glass screens by local St. Louis area artists. The latest installation was in July with the relocation of the Gateway Foundation’s China China(Zhu Wei, 2003) in the Terminal 1 Ticketing Lobby. The program also supports temporary exhibitions in The Lambert Gallery in Terminal 1. Past exhibitors have included Craft Alliance, Chess Hall of Fame, the Griot Museum, and the Foundry Art Centre. The International Photography Hall of Fame is currently exhibiting “A Heritage of Cameras” through November.

The seven-member Airport Art Advisory Committee, appointed by St. Louis City Mayor Slay, works with the Airport to recommend and help select art installations and exhibitions. The committee is represented by David Allen, Susan Barrett, Laura Helling, Marilu Knode, Jill McGuire, Kiku Obata and Frieda L. Wheaton.

Those advisory members are also part of the Art of Travel Host Committee, chaired by Ken Page. Other committee members are Dwyer Brown, Sara Burke, Curtis Cassel, Cynthia L. Cosby, Sean Devereaux, Ollie Dowell, George and Dianne Garrison, Carrie Houke and David Carl Wilson, Richard Hrabko, Samuel Jenkins, John Kemppainen, Nancy and Ken Kranzberg, Benjamin Lipman, Meridith McKinley, Kathleen Ratcliffe, William and Julie Shearburn, Jack Stelzer, Andrew Trivers, Daniel White, and Donna Wilkinson.

For more information on the Lambert Art and Culture Program, visitwww.flystl.com/art