Arts at the Airport and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival® Announce Winners of the 11th Annual Bonnaroo-Themed Skylight Exhibition at Nashville International Airport

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 12, 2024) – Nashville International Airport® (BNA®), Arts at the Airport, the Bonnaroo Works Fund and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival® are proud to announce the 11th annual Bonnaroo-themed skylight exhibition at BNA. The winning artists for 2024 are Laney Baby, Kim Bernard, Karl Hale and Laurie Shapiro.

This exhibition is funded by Arts at the Airport (AaA) and the Bonnaroo Works Fund, the charitable arm of the festival. The winning entries are suspended from the ceiling in four skylights located in Concourses B and C and will be on display through April 7, 2024. Each artist received a $4,500 honorarium.

The four winning entries were selected by a jury composed of members of the Bonnaroo team and Arts at the Airport Board of Directors. The winners were selected based on artistic quality and communication of the Bonnaroo brand to both new and familiar audiences.

Below is a brief description of each artist and skylight exhibit:
Laney Baby (Ohio)
“Radiate Positivity”
Concourse C, near Gate C18
www.LaneyBabyArt.com
@LaneyBabyArt
Link to artwork

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, 26-year-old artist Laney Baby is known for her captivating exploration of themes such as dreams, mental health, and self-discovery. Her paintings often feature a fearless use of color and interactive elements, creating pieces that evoke emotion and invite viewers to immerse themselves in her creative vision. As she continues to evolve as a painter, Baby aims to inspire others through her work and leave a lasting impact on the art world.
Kim Bernard (Maine)
“Infinite Remix”
Concourse C, near Gate C1
www.KimBernard.com
@KimBernardArt
Link to artwork

A Maine artist, Kim Bernard’s passion is for crafting public art with a sustainable twist. She uses recycled materials to design interactive, kinetic sculptures that encourage community participation. Armed with portable recycling machines, this artist tackles plastic waste by crafting unique sculptures from discarded materials.

Nationally recognized, Bernard’s work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions like the Portland Museum of Art, Currier Museum of Art, Fuller Craft Museum, Harvard University's Art Complex, and the University of New Hampshire (UHN) Museum of Art. Additionally, her sculptures have garnered critical acclaim from publications like the Boston Globe, Art News, and Art New England.

Her artistic achievements are recognized by numerous grants, including the Artist Advancement grant, Kindling Fund grant, New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) grant, six Maine Arts Commission grants, and funding from the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation. An educator at Maine College of Art and Colby College, Bernard is also a sought-after regional visiting artist, whose artistic journey residencies at the prestigious Physics Departments of Harvard University and the University of New England. Bernard's academic background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design (1987) and a Master of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2010).

  Karl Hale (Utah)
“Extended Joy”
Concourse B, near Gate T6
www.KarlHale.com
@KarljHale
Link to artwork

With roots in Utah, Karl Hale is a former engineer is now a public artist who masterfully blends creative intuition with scientific logic. His work often draws inspiration from mathematical concepts, employing geometric patterns to create interactive works filled with movement and familiar shapes that speak to audiences of all ages.

Hale's artistic journey is a constant exploration of new mediums. While known for working with safe, low-maintenance, and durable materials like steel and aluminum, he's also done wood carving, sculpting in bronze, and even created large-scale works like marble runs, life-size mazes, and public art installations made from steel.
Laurie Shapiro (New York)
“Silent Disco”
Concourse C, near Gate C2
www.LaurieShapiro.com
@LaurieShapiroArt
Link to artwork

Laurie Shapiro crafts captivating dreamscapes that weave together themes of interconnectedness and harmony with nature. Drawing on a unique sensory experience shaped by hearing loss, this New York artist creates hyper-expressive and visually stimulating environments that embody personal narratives.

A Carnegie Mellon University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Shapiro boasts a distinguished career marked by solo and group exhibitions across the nation. Her captivating work has been commissioned and displayed by renowned institutions like the Dyer Arts Center, San Diego Museum of Art, Otherworld, Weedmaps, and Walter Studios. Further solidifying her artistic journey, she has participated in prestigious residencies at the American Academy in Rome, Studio Arts College International (SACI) Florence, Kala Art Institute, and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

Her artistic achievements are further underscored by prestigious grants, including the Artists’ Fellowship Grant, Puffin Foundation Grant, Vibrant Cities Art Grant, and Center for Cultural Innovation Grant. Her captivating works have found homes in both public and private collections internationally, residing in esteemed institutions like the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, SACI Florence, Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, and Otherworld.

“Silent Disco” is an art installation that pays homage to the Bonnaroo festival and incorporates the artist's experience with hearing loss. At the heart of the installation is the artist's desire to encourage viewers to listen not through external noise but through their feelings and intuition. The handmade “disco balls” that make up the installation are created using a combination of painting and mixed-media techniques. Each ball features floral-inspired printed drawings, layers of paint, and reflective sequins. The installation is a gateway to a kaleidoscopic realm of wonder and color, capturing the essence of the Bonnaroo festival.

About Bonnaroo Works Fund
The Bonnaroo Works Fund was established in 2009 with a mission to make the world a better place through its support of nonprofit organizations that advance the arts, education, and environmental sustainability, with a focus on local reinvestment and asset building in the communities where we work, live and play. Bonnaroo Works Fund was created by the festival founders to foster a year-round philanthropic spirit – and to give back to the local communities.

About Arts at the Airport
The Arts at the Airport (AaA) program showcases the region’s visual and performing arts. AaA is governed by a 15-member Arts at the Airport Foundation board, is funded primarily by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, and receives some funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The award-winning Arts at the Airport program reviews and presents works by local, regional, and national artists for the enjoyment and enrichment of BNA’s passengers and visitors. In addition to visual art, Arts at the Airport includes live music performances on stages throughout BNA’s passenger terminal.

About Nashville International Airport®
As infrastructure is critical to the region’s growth and prosperity, Nashville International Airport® (BNA®) is a vital asset for Middle Tennessee and serves as a gateway to Music City and beyond. According to a recent State of Tennessee study, in 2019 alone, BNA generated more than $9.9 billion in total economic impact. BNA supported more than 76,000 jobs in the region and produced more than $443 million in state, local and federal taxes. BNA receives no local tax dollars. For more information, visit flynashville.com. Follow us on Facebook: @NashvilleInternationalAirport, X: @Fly_Nashville, and Instagram: @FlyNashville. Learn more about New Horizon, our growth and expansion plan for the airport, at https://flynashville.com/bna-new-horizon
About John C. Tune Airport® 
Located in West Nashville, only eight miles from downtown Nashville, John C. Tune Airport® , also known as JWN®, is the busiest general aviation airport in Tennessee. It serves the needs of regional, corporate, and private aircraft and is a reliever airport for Nashville International Airport® (BNA®). JWN has generated $92 million in economic impact and is owned and managed by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. JWN receives no local tax dollars. For more information, visit flynashville.com/nashville-airport-authority/john-c-tune.

NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT®,  BNA®, COMMANDER BERRY FIELD®, JOHN C. TUNE AIRPORT®, and JWN®, among others, are the registered trademarks and trademarks of The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (“MNAA”). Use of these trademarks without permission from MNAA is strictly prohibited. 

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