Water and Sun (T2)
Christopher Lee
San Diego, California

At the far end of the North Concourse, in the middle of the rotunda where Gates 39-41 are located, is a vivid presentation of two of San Diego's top draws. Water and Sun is a dramatic, eye-catching sculpture featuring rays of light reaching toward a gleaming gold-leaf sphere suspended from above, representing the sun. The light rays are refracted off the sphere downward directly into the center of a laminated glass pyramid spouting a cascade of water into a granite pool.

Sea Rhythms (T2)
Terry Thornsley
Laguna Beach, California

Once you make it past the metal detectors, a fascinating underwater world awaits you in Sea Rhythms, a towering 26-foot high aquatic bronze sculpture rising from a fountain in the center of the Marketplace Rotunda. Sea lions, fish and smaller flora and fauna cavort under a canopy of giant kelp (which is one of the region's important coastal industries). The view is one enjoyed throughout the year by snorkelers and divers along the San Diego coast.

Paper Vortex (T2)
Joan Irving
San Diego, California

Just outside the Entrance Rotunda, to the left of the metal detectors in the security corridor, is another work at the Airport by Joan Irving. Forming an intriguing backdrop and barrier wall for the security corridor, Paper Vortex adds a beautiful touch of lighthearted fantasy to an otherwise serious place. It reflects an evolving process that has become the artist's trademark. A piece of paper is seemingly pushed by a breeze down the corridor, forming fist a paper airplane and finally an Origami crane. With its directional shapes and flowing rhythm, the piece is designed to pleasantly lead travelers to their gate.

SeeShells (T2)
Mary Lynn Dominguez
La Mesa, California

Before leaving the Entrance Rotunda, notice the vibrant mosaic artworks adorning the baffle wall entrances to the restrooms. Titled SeeShells, they call to mind a carefree day at the beach. Present at every restroom entrance in the new building, they consist of porcelain and glass tiles simulating colorful beach towels framing a narrow column of translucent glass squares. In each square a real seashell nestled in sand is washed by light.

Wind Dance and Sunlight Juxtaposed (T2)
Joan Irving
San Diego, California

The pedestrian bridge leads you to the upper level of the Entrance Rotunda. Here, near the top of the building's glass facade is the first of three works by artist Joan Irving eloquently addressing the natural element of light, wind and water.

Wind Dance (left) is comprised of 52 etched and painted panels, each 10 feet across by 30 inches high. They span 520 feet across the face of the building. The piece evokes a sense of the changes that can take place in a typical day in San Diego. The elements of wind and sky are transformed into elongated triangle bowing in the wind. The colorful ribbons threading through the mural-like scene end in a Gordian knot, symbolic of the complex knot tied by Gordius, the king from Greek mythology. Wind Dance is lit by the sun during the day and backlit by large fluorescent ceiling lights at night, guiding the eye out toward the city and bay and providing many travelers their first unforgettable view of San Diego.

On the west wall of the Entrance Rotunda (left) is another work by Irving, titled Sunlight Juxtaposed. Some 25 feet high by 50 feet long, it's comprised of 35 glass panels set at five different angles to fit the contour of the rotunda's curved wall. The translucent colors and subtle nuances reflect the light of the sun as it moves throughout the day. Violet and aqua colors portray the sun and water, while the golden color is for beach sand, complimenting the imported limestone used throughout the terminal.

At the Gate (T2)
Gary Hughes
Glen Echo, Maryland

On the lower level at the west end of the expansive baggage claim area stands what is perhaps the airport's most humorous piece of art. At the Gate is a whimsical sculpture of several passengers waiting in line across from the lost luggage counter. With suitcases at their sides and hands stuffed impatiently into their pockets, the figures poke gentle fun at airport patrons' moods. Sculpted of polyester resin and fiberglass, At the Gate offers busy travelers a pleasant respite by relating directly to their present experience with humor and whimsy.

Located at the west end of Terminal 2 West, near the pedestrian bridge, this famous sculpture presents two images of Charles Lindbergh: a small boy playfully pretending to fly, and the accomplished 25-year-old solo aviator who amazed the world in 1927 by becoming the first person to pilot an airplane nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris.

Reproducing a sculpture which stands on the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul, Minnesota, this artwork was a subsequent casting of the St. Paul work by Dr. Paul T. Granlund. The original casting was commissioned jointly by The Charles A. Lindbergh Fund and the Minnesota Historical Society for the 1985 Lindbergh Heritage Week, which celebrated Lindbergh's Minnesota roots.

Another casting of this sculpture was unveiled at Le Bourget Field in Paris, France, in 1987 to serve as a lasting visual reminder of Lindbergh's feat and his Minnesota upbringing that inspired his imagination and a determination to fly.

Granlund is unique among sculptors in casting his own work rather than sending it to a foundry.

Huichol and Tepehuano Yarn Paintings (T2)
Various artists
Supervised/imported by Thomas John Erhardt
Chula Vista, California

The brilliant colors and exacting detail of these nine ceremonial yarn paintings adorn the walls of in the upper level of Terminal 2. Supervised by importer/artist Thomas John Erhardt, the pieces are traditional works of art reflecting the culture and history of three of the Americas' pre-Cortez indigenous cultures. The San Diego region's Latino community traces some of its roots to these cultures, as well. This work pays tribute to that legacy and offers all visitors a bright welcome to our region.

The Huichol and Tepehuana are indigenous tribes living in the secluded and mountainous Sierra Madre Occidental region of the states of Jalisco, Durango, and Nayarit in Mexico. Isolated by high mountain ranges, they continue to worship the same pantheon of deities as their ancestors since the pre-conquest era. Consequently, they have their own unique mythological view of history, with deities closely associated with forces of nature, such as rain and sun.

Light Waves (T2)
Deanne Sabeck
Encinitas, California

In the corridor connecting the Terminal 2 Expansion with the original Terminal 2 building, take a look at the walls. Those waves of color mysteriously appearing above and below you are Light Waves, an interactive work that changes before your eyes as you walk. Spanning a length of wall in each of the two corridors, the piece produces waves of subtle color during the day, and vibrant hues illuminated by halogen lighting at night.

The Sunfliers/Los Voladores (T1)
Mario Torero & Julian Quintana
San Diego, California

A testament to the diverse array of cultures enriching the San Diego region, The Sunfliers/Los Voladores are monumental sculptures reflecting the folklore, colors and styles of Mexican and indigenous peoples of the Southwest. With arms outstretched, the two figures dance and chant around a "fire ring" symbolizing the light at the center of the earth. Viewed by thousands of people a day from their pedestrian bridge, they offer visitors a multicultural welcome to the San Diego region.

Guillermo (T1)
Steve Bartlett
San Francisco, California

Visible to anyone driving by the east end of Terminal 1, Guillermo is an enormous freestanding sculpture of stainless steel. The abstract figure communicates a sense of urgent motion - perhaps a passenger hurriedly rushing through the airport to catch a flight.

Lucky/Spirit (Commuter Terminal)
John J. Whalen
La Mesa, California

The first thing most people see when approaching San Diego International Airport from the ground is this enormous mural of Charles Lindbergh covering nearly the entire east wall of the Commuter Terminal. A smiling Lindbergh holds a model of the "Spirit of St. Louis", the monoplane designed and built by Ryan Airlines Inc. in San Diego that took him on his historic transatlantic nonstop flight in 1927. His bravery in that flight made him a worldwide hero and opened up a new era in aviation history. The San Diego region proudly honors and remembers the man in the official name of its airport: San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh Field.

The "Spirit of St. Louis" Reproduction (T2)
San Diego Aerospace Museum Volunteers

Swooping low over the baggage carousels of Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport, this full scale reproduction of the Ryan Model NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" is a dramatic reminder of San Diego's role in Charles Lindbergh's historic 1927 solo non-stop New York-to-Paris flight. Faithfully recreated by volunteer artisans of San Diego Aerospace Museum, the new "Spirit" is fabricated with authentic materials and construction methods and includes a vintage Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine. It perfectly complements the acclaimed and aerodynamically inspired architecture of the new terminal. Accompanying interpretive displays explain the relationship of the "Spirit of St. Louis" to aviation history and to San Diego.

Bronze Bust of Charles A. Lindbergh (T2)
Paul Fjelde
New York, New York

Beneath the wings of the "Spirit of St. Louis" reproduction, which is suspended in perpetual flight over the vast baggage claim area of Terminal 2, there proudly resides this life size bronze bust of the airport's namesake, Charles A. Lindbergh. The bust was originally installed at the opening of the "new" Lindbergh Field terminal in 1967 to remind travelers of San Diego's historic connection with Lindbergh and the building of his famous airplane.

Tree Lines (T2)
Gail Roberts
Valley Center, California

Gail Roberts' Tree Lines is one of two major art works that have been commissioned to enhance the International Gates in Terminal 2 at Lindbergh Field. The piece is a multi-panel display of oil-on-canvas and mixed media.

Continents (T2)
Italo Scanga
San Diego, California

Three large, colorful paintings, five blown glass flames, and four blown glass cyprus tree sculptures constitute Continents, an original work by internationally acclaimed artist Italo Scanga. This vibrant piece is sure provide a warm and cordial welcome to arriving international passengers at Lindbergh Field.

Drifting Beyond Control (T2)
Carolyn Braaksma
Denver, Colorado

Large scale cast-in-concrete bas-reliefs provide texture and design to a 500-foot long pedestrian corridor linking Terminals 1 & 2 at Lindbergh Field. The patterns are derived from images of marine microorganisms such as plankton, kelp and marsh plants.