Banksy today, crypto NFTs tomorrow? Austin Bergstrom Int’l Airport’s audacious art program
In 2019, 9.6 million visitors paid to peruse the art at the Louvre Museum in Paris. That same year, more than 17 million people passed through terminals at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), where there’s also museum-quality art on view. For free.
We’re not suggesting travelers swap a trip to the Louvre for an art tour of AUS. But art lovers who take a moment to look around the AUS terminals before or after a flight will find plenty of art and cultural treasures.
Right now, for example, AUS is exhibiting five prints and a sculpture by Banksy, the well-known and controversial British street artist whose real identity is unknown and whose work often makes a satirical comment on political and other situations.
The Banksy exhibit at AUS shows the traveling public his very well-known image of Balloon Girl, as well as some less well-known but equally thought-provoking work. On view in the airport’s Clarksville Gallery through March 31, 2022, the collection is on loan to the airport by local private art collectors who sought an opportunity to share the pieces with the community and the traveling public in time for the holiday season, New Year, and visitors to the SXSW Conference and Festivals in early March, says AUS Arts Program Manager Cory Anne Hurless.
Some Banksy work has famously been sold for over $24 million. And while the pieces on display at AUS may not be similarly valued, the Banksy show at AUS is certainly one of the airport’s most high-profile exhibits. “They are very valuable original signed works,” says Hurless, who couldn’t divulge the confidential security protocols in place to protect these pieces. But she did say, however, that “the work is very well monitored and maintained according to current museum standards for collections care. And are insured by the City of Austin.”
Don’t worry if you don’t make it to AUS in time to see the Banksy exhibit. The airport has plenty of other high-quality art scattered throughout the terminals and often works with local groups to bring special exhibits to the airport. “A couple of great and valuable partnerships have been with Six Square - Austin’s Black Cultural District, the Mexic-Arte Museum, Capitol Arts Society, The Museum of Popular Art in Mexico City, and the La Peña Gallery,” says Hurless.
Related: New art exhibit at Philadelphia Intl. Airport is a memorial for mercy and justice
Next time you visit AUS airport, keep in mind there are five temporary exhibit areas that feature a rotating collection of pieces by local and international artists. As a nice touch, galleries are named after notable Austin neighborhoods: Zilker (across from gate 18), Jollyville (across from gate 20), Moore’s Crossing (across from gate 12), Clarksville (across from gate 10), and Colony Park (across from gate 10).
The airport also has a great collection of permanent public art that ranges from the eight ten-foot-tall guitars in the baggage claim level that were painted and adorned by local artists to Young Min-Kang’s spaceship-like Austin Downtown Cruiser - a day and night version - on the east and west mezzanine walls.
This year AUS is also adding three new and soon-to-be-completed public art pieces to the terminals. Meanderwing is an outdoor installation by artist Marc Fornes of THEVERYMANY; Interimaginary Departures in an interactive experiential installation next to gate 14 in the Barbara Jordan Terminal; and Plume is a large sculpture by local artist duo Studio Modo.
Hurless believes having art in airports can have a positive influence. “It can touch anyone’s life, young or old, art lover or no, even to put a smile on their face. I delight in those possibilities,” she says. Going forward Hurless says she’s looking for a way to innovate the AUS art program and looking at opportunities to highlight other mediums including video, performance, gaming arts, and crypto NFT art.
Related: How PHX Airport managed to move and save a historic mural
“I also want to utilize art as a form of therapy to relax airport travelers,” says Hurless. “We all know about the uptick in passenger aggressiveness, so I am experimenting with ways to use art in strategic places in the airport to encourage positive meditation.”
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.