Tulsa International Airport unveils new art installation

TULSA, Okla. — Flyers at Tulsa International Airport can now enjoy a new piece of artwork.

Crews installed the new artwork on Friday right in front of the TSA checkpoint.

FOX23 spoke with the artist behind the work, which is called ‘Sunrising’.

“The really lovely thing about this site is that there is such incredible natural light, really tall ceilings, this long sort of hallway expanse. I really wanted to sort of create a work that wasn’t going to feel heavy, that was going to feel light and work with transparency, that was going to work with color. It’s a really neutral space, it’s like white and gray. So I sort of wanted to bring some color and life to the space, but not have it scream ‘I'm an artwork’,” Shane Darwent said.

Thirty-four motors control the installation, which gives it its movement.

Darwent, who lives in Tulsa, said it has been a very welcoming city to be an artist.

“To be a local artist chosen for this project where I was competing against people from all over the world, it just feels really special. It’s taken the entire city to support a project like this. Even though the airport is funding this, it’s just taken a lot of people to believe in the city of Tulsa to help grow it,” Darwent said.