July 24, 2006
From Stained Glass Wall to Keychains
There's a pretty depressing article in the NY Times about the destruction of a stained glass wall at JFK Airport's Terminal 8. American Airlines is expanding the terminal, and since saving the 317-foot by 23-foot abstract red, blue and white stained glassed wall by Robert Sowers will cost $1 million to take down, American decided to demolish it. And what will become of the 30,000 tiles? The NY Times reports American will "use some of the glass to make key chains for airline employees." Classy! The NY Times had other reactions:
- “It’s disrespectful and distasteful,” said Harriet Senie, a professor of art history at City College and the City University of New York Graduate Center. “It’s almost like a cannibalization.”We definitely understand the last pilot's comment, but it's just sad that something that made people feel like they weren't in yet another airport has to go. Two other interior murals at Terminal 8 are being sold to finance a new mural for the terminal.
- “I assumed they would be saving the window,” said John Corrado, a pilot with the airline for 28 years. “It is part of the New York landscape.”
- John Farrell, another pilot, said: “In this age, you can’t afford too much sentimentality. There are razor-thin margins in this business, and I don’t think anybody ever buys a ticket because American Airlines has a very nice stained window."
Thumbnail from Bridge and Tunnel Club, which has a much bigger photograph
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Couldn't they auction it off to a rich art collector?
Someone should hit up their favorite NYC billionaire to save it and install it at the Met if necessary. Seriously, for some of the art loving uber-rich citizens in this city, $1mil is pocket change, especially for such an iconic piece.
By the way, the "bigger picture" link is restricted or gone with the dodo.
I fly out of Terminal 8/9 four times a year or so and it is hands down the worst terminal in all of JFK. In fact, it is so bad there, I have never even noticed that window. Hard to believe I could have missed it, but it is just that bad there.
It's a shame, as it looks really nice, but I will not be sorry to see that terminal go.
Agree with [4]. Because of that terminal alone, I've stopped flying AA for a while. It was a freaking Zoo during peak travel seasons. I'm kinda glad its being phased out. The wall was the only good part of the terminal before walking into hell.
Well this just proves that the company isn't just fiscally bankrupt.
From public art to tchochkis. Metaphor for NYC '06.
For years I only flew American into/out of JFK. I thought JFK was the worst airport in the world (closely followed by Miami). This weekend I flew back to the UK with Virgin. And realized it was just that terminal. Stained glass or no stained glass, thank goodness they are doing something with it.