Frequent travelers can wind down from the chaotic environment of Austin-Bergstrom International airport at a new art exhibit highlighting endangered species.
The Calming Towers, a digital exhibit unveiled earlier this month, is a series of videos spotlighting local endangered wildlife. Rectangles hold video screens with slowed videos of the species. With minimal text and no sound, the videos create a soothing effect for travelers, according to a press release.
Barbara Attwell, the artist behind the exhibit, said she hopes to educate travelers and provide a space for people to calm down amid airport chaos.
“Galleries are very valuable, but they have a very limited clientele; mostly people that have more money will go to them and spend (money on) art,” Attwell said. “The airport is just a great mass of humanity of all incomes, all socio-economic levels, different educational levels; … it’s a great universal site. There are a lot of people who don’t go to art galleries, or museums so the value of having it in public space — it’s just mind-blowing.”
There are hundreds of known caves in Central Texas that provide habitats to diverse, cave-dwelling wildlife, such as the Austin blind salamander, according to a press release. However, the caves face a risk of extinction from rapid development, so the project will be used to raise awareness about local wildlife.
Olivia Zelling, a government senior, frequently flies out of the Austin Airport to return to her hometown. She said having an art exhibit to raise awareness about endangered species will help passersby learn more about local species and wildlife conservation efforts.
“When people are traveling, especially if you’re not from Austin, you don’t know much about Austin,” Zelling said. “(The exhibit) is something important … (because when you get there) you’re like, ‘Oh my god, now I know a lot about this animal.’ I think it’s really meaningful.”
