About this Art Collection
Terminal 1, Roadside Gateway, Ground Level (pre-security)
Materials: Steel, chain-link fence, shou-sugi ban wood
Migrations is a site-specific artwork celebrating San Diego’s history, its landscape, and sky above. Influenced by indigenous, colonial, and immigrant stories, it explores birds as symbols of transcendence, rebirth, and freedom across cultures. Artist Walter Hood drew particular inspiration from early Migration Period art (c. 300-900 CE), known for transforming bird mythology into vibrant polychrome designs.
The installation features two striking red and yellow sculptures, standing 20 and 40 feet tall, with grounded beaks symbolizing the connection between earth and sky. Blackened wood spirals weave through the forms, creating dynamic patterns of light and shadow. Papel picado-inspired patterns of flight created by local children adorn the large oculi, embodying the joy and wonder of flying. Together, the sculptures serve as enduring symbols of movement, connection, and transformation.
Walter Hood:
Walter J. Hood, a multidisciplinary designer from Charlotte, NC, is globally recognized for his contributions in art, landscape architecture, urbanism, and research. Founding Hood Design Studio in Oakland, CA in 1992, he now leads as its creative director. His passion for landscape and urbanism emerges from its broad, democratic scope, allowing experiences beyond architectural constraints. Infusing African American cultural arts into his philosophy, he established a unique voice, reshaping spaces to reflect contemporary needs without erasing their history. A professor at UC Berkeley and former Harvard educator, Walter penned “Black Landscapes Matter” and has received accolades like the 2019 MacArthur Fellowship, the 2021 Architectural League’s President’s Medal award, 2023 WSJ Magazine Innovator in Design award, and the 2024 Scully Prize.
