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Denver International Airport Named Number 1 For Airport Art

The City of Denver’s commitment to have art in all public spaces has landed it on a new top ten list. As passengers plod through the country’s fifth busiest airport this holiday travel season, this distinction – Best U.S. Airport for Art – might cause them to stop and pause.

Many people may think of the iconic blue mustang that greets passengers outside of the facility. Reactions may be mixed – but Denver International Airport media relations director Laura Coale says that’s the point.

"One of the things that we've done is bring in the Denver culture into the airport."

"The public art that is at DIA right now has been here for quite a while and we will continue to look for new artwork that will generate conversation. A lot of people think that is the point of artwork," she said.

Readers of USA Today chose DIA’s art program from among 20 U.S. airports, which Coale says shows that the art exhibited at DIA is memorable.

“We want people to remember the art work and remember their experience here. And one of the things that we’ve done is bring in the Denver culture into the airport,” Coale says.

She points to the "Fly By Red Rocks" temporary exhibit on the bridge to the A security checkpoint that showcases gifts donated to Red Rocks by musicians such as autographed guitars.

Nearly 30 site-specific works are in and around the airport, including sculptures, murals and video installations.

See how other airports stack up according to USA Today:

  1. Denver International Airport
  2. Albuquerque International Sunport
  3. Philadelphia International Airport
  4. Pittsburgh International
  5. San Francisco International
  6. Mineta San Jose International
  7. Albany International Airport
  8. Austin-Bergstrom International
  9. Chicago O'Hare International
  10. Sacramento International Airport

http://youtu.be/olZcpSuyQLY

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