Celebrating SEA’s Public Art Odyssey with Stars and Waves

Diving into the dazzling world of recently unveiled public art at SEA Airport is an incredible way to wave goodbye to 2023. You’ve arrived at the perfect destination. Prepare yourself for a delightful journey! 

A few months back, SEA unveiled the marvelous artwork gracing the entrance of its first all-gender restroom as part of the Restroom Renovation project. Continuing this artistic journey, not one but TWO new spectacular artworks have joined the ranks at SEA Airport. 

Drumroll, please, for the awe-inspiring "We the Stars" by Maja Petrić, sprinkling magic in the B Concourse, and the mesmerizing video creation "Point of Origin, Tides" by Emily Tanner-McLean, making waves in the C Concourse. With the addition of these pieces, SEA is excited to welcome two local and female artists to the collection, with two works that are the first of their kind in our ever-evolving collection.

“We the Stars”

Follow the bronze fish (“Flying Fish” by Judith and Daniel Caldwell) to the end of the B Concourse, and voilà — there it is! "We the Stars" by Maja Petrić is an ever-changing starscape brought to life with etched mirrors, LED lights, and an algorithmic composition to change the light composition continuously and, in so, the look and feel of the piece. The artist explains “Just like the composition of the universe, the depiction of the stellar landscape is constantly evolving. The same state is never repeated. Stars appear to grow, explode, fade, merge, and continually expand.” Maja's generative light art sculpture is a magical depiction of the evolving universe, with each newborn becoming a twinkling star. She beautifully puts it, "A silhouette of a child forged of stars is programmed to appear in deep space, representing the human relationship with the cosmos." Maja's art goes beyond aesthetics; it's a visual celebration of human births in Washington state, flooding the starscape with a flash of white light with each new life.

Maja herself says, "I use light to visualize the starscape and captivate people’s perception, emotion, memory, and imagination." Born in Zagreb, Croatia, and now based in Seattle, Maja Petrić is an artist who effortlessly blends light and advanced technology, crafting over 80 artworks since 2001. Her creations don't just captivate with their initial beauty; they unfold to reveal deeper themes, touching on mortality, interdependence, climate change, and collective action.

“Point of Origin, Tides”

Now, let's dive into "Point of Origin, Tides" by Emily Tanner-McLean, a captivating video art piece that recently stole the spotlight in SEA’s Restroom Renovation project. Created in 2022, this artwork, now gracing the heart of the C Concourse, is a visual tapestry woven from close-up video clips of Coast Salish intertidal species at the Marine Science Center in Port Townsend, WA. Emily's meticulous process involves isolating clips, focusing on textures, colors, and subtle motions, and then “weaving” them into a cohesive pattern block using editing techniques. The result is an 11:23 minute endless loop, offering a mesmerizing experience without audio. Gazing at this work is like peering through a kaleidoscope, inviting you on a poetic voyage to discover the water universe like never before.

The artist creates video installations that “position the viewers in a liminal space, inviting them to pause and occupy the gray area between two opposing ideas or conditions. Here, the experience is not fully one thing or another but a blend — a 'third thing. Paradoxical states that evade clear labels have fascinated me since I was young, growing up between two different households on opposite coasts of the country and in constant flux. I’m interested in what it means to occupy these transitory spaces where our conventional modes of organizing reality no longer apply." - Emily Tanner-McLean

As a child of the MTV generation, Emily's interest in media's generative capacity to promote new ways of thinking is evident in her video art and immersive installations. Check out Emily’s website to learn how her unique approach blends manipulated footage of natural landscapes with field recordings and human noise, creating immersive experiences that elicit conflicting emotions.

Next time you're awaiting your flight at SEA, soak up the beauty of these artworks crafted by two incredible PNW artists. Amidst the hustle and bustle around you, take a moment to bask in front of these masterpieces that promise to transport you on a captivating voyage. Whether you're drawn to the stars or captivated by the marine life beneath the water’s surface, both artists share their boundless love for nature through their exceptional work.

Looking ahead to 2024, get ready for more jaw-dropping public artworks with the next phase of the Restroom Renovation project: Bill FitzGibbons and Minhi England at the B3 restroom, Shuli Sade at the D3 restroom, the De la Torre brothers at D11 restroom, Elyse Pignolet at C16 restroom, and Jen Elek/Jeremy Bert at D1 restroom are all poised to sweep you off your feet!