Officials at San Diego International Airport on March 24 unveiled a yearlong exhibition of public art that celebrates the centennial of Balboa Park.
“Balboa Park & the City: Celebrating San Diego’s Panama-California Exposition” is the largest temporary art exhibit ever at Lindbergh Field, according to airport officials.
“With 30 installations spread among all three terminals, the exhibition offers a truly immersive experience that takes you back in time,” said Thella Bowens, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
The exhibition includes original artwork and historic images, collectibles and artifacts from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which gave San Diego its first major international exposure.
The display, which went up on March 23, includes historic photographs and large-format postcards that document the history, landscape and architecture of the park. Ten local artists donated original work that is representative of or inspired by Balboa Park and the city of San Diego.
The exhibition’s images include historic photographs and postcards presented in large format documenting the unique history, landscape and architecture of the Park.
The Art Program solicited original artwork that is representative of or inspired by Balboa Park and the city of San Diego from local artists. Ten participants were selected to exhibit their work based on their aesthetic and creative representation of the Park and unique use of media.
Exhibition highlights include:
• A replica of the famous wicker “Electriquette,” which transported fairgoers at the 1915 Exposition;
• Lighting designs by Jim Gibson, inspired by the ornate fixtures at the 1935 Exposition; and
• Original works by Guillermo Acevedo, a celebrated illustrator and documentarian of San Diego’s landmarks and historic sites.
— City News Service, San Diego Metro