San Jose, SJC, Gorbet, Banerjee, art activation, technology art, airport, infrastructureThe team of Gorbet+Banerjee was selected as the Airport Art Activation Team for the San Jose International Airport. Our mandate is to: 1) create an infrastructure that will support an ongoing program of Art & Technology; 2) design and build "flexible technological platforms" that will enable a rotating series of artworks commissioned for the airport; and 3) create a number of "pilot artworks" using the platforms. At the Symposium we will present our research and designs, report on progress, and offer insights gained from the project.
Abstract The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport Public Art Master Plan calls for a Unified program of Art & Technology. This exciting program will create the first major collection of technology-related artworks in a public space that is not devoted to art as its primary purpose, and it clearly has the potential to lead the way globally for art & technology programs deployed in public spaces. As the Art Activation Team for the airport, our challenge is to activate the airport and its systems so that it can support this ongoing program of Art & Technology. Our vision is focused on how art and technology can gracefully enhance people's experience of space. In our experience, technology in public spaces succeeds in its goals when there is foresight, deep contextual integration, and creation of the infrastructure to support it, including the human systems that foster a feeling of ownership from people in the building. We have been actively working with the community of architects, planners, officials, designers, and artists in order to achieve these goals and create a deeply integrated but flexible set of systems for the Airport. We first engaged in a thorough research phase to solicit input and learn about airports, public art and best practices in Art & Technology. Using this information, we designed a number of integrated physical, systemic and technological platforms to enable Art & Technology work to be integrated into the airport concourse and the passenger's experience. At the Symposium, we will present our research, our vision and our designs. We will also report on the status of the project and offer insights that can be applied as future large-scale projects pursue the transvergent vectors among Art & Technology, Architecture and Public Art. URLS: Complete Project Information and Links Airport Public Art Program Master Plan San José Public Art Commission |