Exhibits at BNA

Urban Pulse and Natural Calm (acrylic paintings)
Artist: Wesley Howe
Location: Level 1, IAF Exit Waiting Area

Wesley Howe is originally from Neodesha, Kan., and has lived in Nashville, Tenn., for 40 years. He crafts traditional realistic paintings using acrylic on hard board, reflecting still-life, landscapes, seascapes, and images from his travels around the world. Wesley has previously owned a gallery in Atlanta, where he was passionate about highlighting local artisans. In his free time, you can find Wesley watching a Boston Red Sox game, designing model railroad scenes, and exploring Nashville’s growing art scene.

About Urban Pulse and Natural Calm
The artist states, “This collection captures the essence of human experience through diverse settings, from tranquil sailboats to vibrant cityscapes. Each painting explores contrasts in environment, light and emotion.”

“From peaceful waters to the lively streets of Nashville and New York, each scene evokes different emotions: peace, nostalgia, excitement and reflection. Light transforms each scene, symbolizing hope and mystery and enhancing the emotional depth, and with landmarks like Nashville’s music scene and Radio City Music Hall, the paintings celebrate cultural and historical narratives.”

Howe concludes, “Through these pieces, I invite viewers to reflect on their own experiences and the beauty of the world around them.”

@paintingsbywesleyhowe

Pleasant Moments of a Small Town in Mid Tennessee (oil paintings)
Artist: Meemi J.L.´
Location: Location: A/B Exit Waiting Area

Meemi J.L.´ moved to Cookeville, Tenn., from Hawaii 22 years ago. When Meemi was young, her parents emphasized that appreciating art was essential in life. Her father strongly believed that any form of art – music, poetry, or painting – could enrich people’s lives and enhance their world experiences, as famously stated by Bob Dylan: “Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.”

Later in life, no matter how far away from home she was or what direction she moved, her dad’s love of art remained deep within her. The artist chose “Meemi J.L.” as aprofessional pseudonym in memory of her parents, who are still very much alive in her heart and were the reasons she returned to the canvas. Her work is represented by the Appalachian Center for Craft Gallery at Tennessee Tech University, and the PhotoArt Gallery and Studio in Cookeville. Additionally, it is displayed at M.J.L’s Art Studio, 39 West Broad Street in Cookeville.

About Pleasant Moments of a Small Town in Mid Tennessee
The artist states, “I seek to capture the simple moments that inspire me by extracting the abstract visual component from scenes in nature so that the viewer sees what I see and responds with their emotions. The exhibit, ‘Pleasant Moments of a Small Town,’ represents my interpretation of the beauty found in ordinary scenes from a small town in Middle Tennessee. I hope that viewers feel a sense of peace when experiencing these snapshots of small-town life.”

Timeless Tales: The Magic of Childhood (oil paintings)
Artist: Jessica Lewis
Location: Level 1, IAF Exit Waiting Area

Jessica Lewis is an award-winning American artist living and working in Nashville, Tenn. She received formal art education and was honored to attend the Governor ’s School for the Arts in Kentucky as a teenager. She continued at the University of Louisville and was the recipient of the Hendershot Scholarship, a full four year art scholarship. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, she later earned an Master of Fine Arts in painting from Southern Illinois University. Lewis is especially known for her portraits of children and out-of-the box thinking when approaching art. Her previous work in the entertainment industry creating large-scale themed environments for children and families helped to inform her work. Her paintings describe not only the outer appearance of the person, but also offer a glimpse inside. Often, these portraits are born from memories of her own childhood and experiences with her children. She draws on both, creating work that is designed to invoke conversations between generations and the unique condition of childhood, many moments being universally understood and one of the rare things that binds us all.

About Timeless Tales: The Magic of Childhood
The artist states, “It wasn’t until I became a mother that my work shifted into new territory. As they discovered the world, I began to remember things I’d long forgotten from a perspective I’d outgrown. The make-believe. The newness. The strangeness. The Magic.”

www.jessica-lewis.com
Instagram: @jessica.lewis.art

There Will Come A Time (mixed media paintings)
Artist: Michelle O'Patick-Ollis
Location: Level 1, IAF Exit Waiting Area

Michelle O’Patick-Ollis is a multi-passionate artist who enjoys creating mixed media coffee paintings, charcoal portraits, mixed media sculptures and murals. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Fine Art from Arizona State University. Michelle taught Visual Arts at the intermediate/middle school level for 17 years and is now a full-time artist. Her artwork can be found in collections across the country including: The New Britain Museum of American Art; Scottsdale Contemporary Museum of Art; University of Washington Book Arts and Rare Book Collection; and the Tuscon Museum of Art, among others.

About There Will Come A Time
The artist states, “I paint the places, people and things that catch my eye and strike an inner chord with me, so the images in my art are varied as my days. Using with oil-based paint allows me to create rough areas with a brush and then add more details or completely change things as I go along. As a believer, painting is how I express the meaning and beauty found in both the sublime and the seemingly mundane things we have the gift of seeing every day, if we just look. I realize that Divine inspiration is a lofty goal, but it is often found on the wings of dreams!”

www.opatickollis.com

Animated Mammals (mixed media)
Artist: Bob Rahmanian “Neurowaxx”
Location: Level 1, IAF Exit Waiting Area

“Neurowaxx” is a pseudonym that the artist Bob Rahmanian chooses to use for his work. He comments on it saying that Neurowaxx “is a fusion of ‘neuro’ (the tissue connecting the conscious experience) and ‘wax’ (a malleable material that shapes form and conducted sound on early phonographs). He prefers a pseudonym because it allows him to explore different styles free from identity or ego. Neurowaxx states, “I have spent many years in music/media production and have always had a profound admiration for Nashville and its world class music industry. When I’m not painting or making music, I’m working as an emergency and at home hospice physician.”

Neurowaxx continues, “I use technology to stay organized at work and also as a tool in the creative process. I explore themes involving surreal and satirical takes on conscious experience, pop culture and simulation hypothesis. Rough designs start with doodles. The pieces evolve through refinement in Procreate and Photoshop. Final pieces are redrawn on substrate and painted with acrylics, spray paint and oils.”

About Animated Mammals
The artist states, “This series is an exploration of the human/animal bond and how an alien super intelligence may generate its own impression of the relationship. I produced digital animations of these paintings, complete with soundtracks, and linked them with QR codes embedded within the pieces themselves or in the frames.”

Instagram: @neurowaxx
X: @neurowaxx

Kelly Spell (quilts)
Artist: Full Circle
Location: Concourse A, Near Gate 2

Kelly Spell is an award-winning quilter living in Hixson, Tenn. Her abstract modern quilts have been featured in numerous publications, shows and museums around the world, including the National Quilt Museum, Asheville Art Museum and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Spell started quilting in 2014. Driven by an intense curiosity, she employs a variety of techniques. Some are cutting edge and others are rooted in the time-honored tradition of American quilt making. She enjoys experimenting with the fundamentals of color theory and using them to manipulate the way designs are perceived. She recently started dyeing and printing her own cloth to further those investigations.

About Full Circle
The artist states, “I make modern quilts that celebrate color and shape. The bold, abstract designs feature dynamic palettes and emphasize contrast in value and hue. A love of circles and swirls drives my current work, which explores ideas of movement, energy and exertion of control amid broader chaos.

In 2020, my artistic practice became very process driven and precision focused. Reflecting on it now, the shift was a subconscious reaction to the turbulence and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and other events. Quilts are a refuge where I seek both calm and control.”

www.kellyspell.com
Instagram: @kellyspell

Radiate Positivity
Artist: Laney Baby
Location: Concourse C. Skylight near Gate C-9

Laney Baby is a 26-year-old artist from Columbus, Ohio. 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.

Laney Baby states, “I am passionate about mental well-being, and the topic of mental health inspires my work. I also gather inspiration from my spiritual journey, as well as my vivid dreams.”

@LaneyBabyArt

www.LaneyBabyArt.com

www.bonnarooworksfund.org

Infinite Remix
Artist: Kim Bernard
Location: Concourse C. Skylight near Gate C-7

Kim Bernard creates sculptures that are recycled, kinetic, interactive, public pieces that involve the community. She creates upcycled installations out of trash and is currently focusing on transforming plastic waste into sculpture using her portable recycling machines. She shows her work nationally and has been invited to participate in many exhibits, some of which include the Portland Museum of Art, Currier Museum of Art, Fuller Craft Museum, Harvard University, Art Complex Museum and UNH Museum of Art. Her work has been reviewed in the Boston Globe, Art News and Art New England.

Bernard is the recipient of the Artist Advancement Grant, Kindling Fund Grant, NEFA grant, six Maine Arts Commission Grants as well as funding from the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation. She was an artist-in-residence in the Physics Department at Harvard University and at the University of New England. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2010. Bernard teaches at the Maine College of Art, Colby College and regionally as a visiting artist.

The artist states, “For the past several years, I’ve been making sculptural installations using recycled materials such as ocean debris, bicycle inner tubes, bowling balls, reusable nylon bags, denim jeans, plastic and most recently vinyl records!”

@KimBernardArt

www.KimBernard.com

www.bonnarooworksfund.org

Extended Joy
Artists: Karl Hale
Location: Concourse B. Skylight near Gate B-4

Karl Hale is an engineer-turned-public artist. Hale’s artwork brings together intuitive, right-brained art and logical, left-brained science. Much of Hale’s artwork is based on mathematical concepts. He frequently uses geometric patterns to create interactive works filled with movement and familiar shapes that speak to younger (and less young) audiences.

The artist states, “‘Extended Joy’ is created from recycled street signs cut and layered into a cascade of flowers and symbols familiar to all Bonnaroovians. These signs were salvaged from being melted down after they were deemed unfit for their posts because of graffiti tagging, wear and tear and bullet holes. When left untouched, each discarded street sign seems to have reached the end of its usefulness. Yet, when these signs are brought together, they undergo a remarkable transformation into a vibrant work of art. Past their apparent useful life, they are now elevated and celebrated. May we do the same for our fellow humans.”

@KarljHale

www.KarlHale.com

www.bonnarooworksfund.org

Silent Disco
Artist: Laurie Shapiro
Location: Concourse C. Skylight near Gate C-15.

Laurie Shapiro creates immersive dreamscapes based on interconnectivity and oneness with nature. She compensates for her hearing loss through overt expressiveness and hyper visual stimulation and creates scenarios and environments that embody personal narratives.

Shapiro earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University and has exhibited in solo and group shows nationwide. Various institutions have commissioned and shown her artwork, including the Dyer Arts Center, San Diego Museum of Art, Otherworld, Weedmaps and Walter Studios. Shapiro has completed artist residencies at the American Academy in Rome, SACI Florence, Kala Art Institute, and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Shapiro has also been awarded an Artists’ Fellowship Grant, Puffin Foundation Grant, Vibrant Cities Art Grant, and Center for Cultural Innovation Grant. Her work is internationally found in public and private collections, including the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, SACI Florence, Bilkent University, 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.

@LaurieShapiroArt

www.LaurieShapiro.com

www.bonnarooworksfund.org

Air/Traffic/Control
Artist: Ivan Toth Depeña
Location: BNA Terminal Garage
Dedicated: December 2018

“Air/Traffic/Control,” designed by Ivan Toth Depeña, is installed in each of the six elevator lobbies at the Nashville International Airport’s Ground Transportation Center and Terminal Parking Garage in Nashville, Tenn.

The project was inspired by the complexity and mechanisms of the traveler’s journey. Taking inspiration from flight patterns, data, cartography, movement and sound wave forms, Depeña created an original artwork using light and glass to transform the typical column into a dynamic, responsive and interactive experience for the airport traveler. Each level is tied together visibly using a vibrant and intricately abstracted art work that is laminated within the colored glass. The compositions are generated specifically from flight paths and translated sound waves.

The project utilizes the general flow of the commuters and the movement within the elevator lobbies to activate the art. LED components produce a visual response and act as a cognitive representation of the movement and circulation. The physical form of the column appears to transform the color and energy of the motion as the viewer walks and interacts with the piece, creating an ever-evolving public art installation.

There are several added layers of media that compose the entire installation including sound and augmented reality. Depeña explored the use of sensors at the site, as a direct input, to affect the lighting and trigger sound compositions. The audio was composed by local musicians “Tape Deck Mountain” who collaborated directly with the artist. Each floor’s sonic composition is mixed live and at random and is intended to be different on each floor. Finally, a custom app is being developed to overlay a layer of Augmented Reality to the project. The content that is visible only using a mobile app, consists of flight data, musician themed video and abstracted visuals.

Ivan Toth Depeña is an artist who is currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C. With a Masters Degree in Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Depeña’s artistic production is informed by his experience in art, architecture, technology and design.

Celebration
Artist: Jorge Yances
Medium: oil on canvas
Location: BNA® Administrative Offices, Level 6
Dedicated: Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Award-winning artist Jorge A. Yances was born in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and educated in the United States. He was labeled a creative prodigy by art aficionados at a very early age. During his teenage years, he fine-tuned his creative expression using a variety of techniques and finishes. Yances is a resident of Nashville, Tenn., and has a long, successful career creating and selling his artwork. Yances’ work has been on display and in demand throughout the United States, South America and Asia.

Yances’ unique style gives the viewer the opportunity to sense and feel more than one reality. The power of mind and matter intermingle and come to life on the canvas. This ability has earned Yances a premier position in the Magical Realism Movement.

About Celebration
The city strikes a particular chord in the hearts of those who come to Nashville with visions of a destination, not merely a place to visit. “Celebration” embraces and invites each viewer to awaken to the rhythm of our city; to come closer and see themselves reflected as a part of our story.

Distinctive Nashville imagery that initially draws the audience to the painting for a photo or selfie becomes, in close proximity and upon examination, a discovery of phantom spirits tucked away and peering out, beckoning – a powerful signature element of the Realismo Mágico style.

The magic of Nashville welcomes and unites many voices, songs, stories, cultures and perspectives. Welcome to Nashville!

Every New Day is the Best Day of Our Lives
Artist: Brian Tull
Medium: Vinyl printed on sheetrock. Imagery by Adrian Ramirez/EyeEm via Getty Images
Location: Concourse D, Gate 6
Installed: 2020

Neon: nostalgic and Nashville-fitting. This imagery is a snapshot of the travelers’ visit to Nashville as they depart, and a comfort to the locals heading to a distant place. The movement and excitement of color in this art installation represents our hopes in this city, BNA, aviation, and our and desire to keep traveling and moving forward.

The title, “Every New Day is the Best Day of Our Lives” is inspired by my daughter, Olive, who reminds me that every new day is the best day of my life.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nashville-based artist Brian Tull uses both oil and acrylic paint to create photorealistic images that embody a tone of wistfulness, nostalgia, and ease through allegory. Tull’s work combines his fascination of a bygone era, a time that he believes to have been “…simple, more genuine and honest,” with his truly sensational ability to render the real world.

Lyrical Journeys
Artists: Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee
Media: Steel, walnut wood and LED lighting
Location: Concourse D, Gate 2
Installed: 2020

Lyrical Journeys” was designed by RE:site Studio’s Shane Allbritton and Norman Lee (Houston, Texas) as a public art homage to the sights and sounds of Nashville. Measuring 90 feet long and 17.5 feet wide, “Lyrical Journeys” is constructed from 14 pairs of steel bridge plates and 20 linear strings of LED light, which create an interactive experience for travelers.

The LED light strands brighten and darken in rapid succession as passengers walk beneath, creating the impression that they’re strumming the light strands as they would an instrument.

The bridge plates are a metaphorical celebration of Nashville’s musical, geographic and cultural identity: specifically, the many bridges that span the Cumberland River; songwriting, which frequently invokes bridges leading to a song’s climax; and stringed instruments, which use bridges to support their strings and produce musical sounds. Finally, the bridge plates symbolize Nashville’s identity as a focal point that connects people from all over the nation and world, echoing BNA’s role as a bustling transportation hub.

“Lyrical Journeys” was recommended to the BNA Board of Commissioners by a six-member Arts at the Airport Foundation Board selection committee. Nearly 70 submissions were received from public artists around the nation.

Across Country
Artist: Matt Goad
Medium: Terrazzo
Location: C/D Concourse Node
Installed: 2023

“Across Country” weaves airplanes and musical instruments together through a red, white and blue color palette. The title refers to traveling across the U.S.A. and the music genre that Nashville is famous for. The three stars and colors represent the flag of Tennessee, and the column stands for “The Athens of the South,” Nashville’s nickname. The swirl motifs are a nod to the popular carpet design that was replaced by the terrazzo floor. The design is intended to convey travel to and from Music City in the motion and movement of a two-step.
-Matt Goad

American artist Matt Goad began his art career while working as a graphic designer and illustrator in the mid-1990s. Woodblock printing and its hard-edged graphic aesthetic helped inform his modern style which he would take into the realm of paintings in the 2000s. Passionate about color, composition, and telling a story, his geometric approach leads viewers through a compositional narrative. His work is easily accessible to the public and enjoyed by many --  young, old, and across cultural identities.

In 2021, Goad’s design, “Across Country,” was selected by BNA stakeholders from over 60 national and international entries.

Better Home Awaiting
Artists: Jairo and Susan Prado (Prado Studio)
Medium: Terrazzo
Location: A/B Concourse Node
Installed: 2023

“Better Home Awaiting” references the history of Music City with a nod to WSM, the country’s first FM radio station, first airing the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, a precursor to the Grand Ole Opry. The Ryman Auditorium was the Opry’s home from 1943 to 1974, originally built by riverboat captain Thomas Ryman as a permanent house of worship for the city after his powerful conversion experience at an outdoor tent revival led by revivalist Samuel Jones in 1885. Its role as “The Mother Church of Country Music” was profound, and from its colorful stained glass windows and wing-like central arch window flowed countless songs from Country, Western, Bluegrass, Folk, Gospel and Americana legends.

One beloved nightly Opry tradition remains; the singing of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” a gospel altar-call hymn written by Ada R. Habershon in 1907 and popularized after the Carter Family’s revised 1935 recording. The chorus asks, “Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, Lord, by and by? There’s a better home awaiting, in the sky, Lord, in the sky.” This reference to the idea of flight and of coming home is depicted in the medallion design as a passenger jet takes to the Nashville sky, its sun resembling a rustic slice of Tennessee Maple wood. The circle theme is repeated with the pattern of records, inspired by Nashville’s own historic United Record Pressing, founded in 1949 and the largest record pressing operation in North America, not only representing country music industry superstars but also pressing the jukebox hits of Motown, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles’ very first 7-inch 45-rpm vinyl.

“Better Home Awaiting” was designed by Nashville-based artist team Jairo and Susan Prado, who have an established history of creating award-winning large-scale architectural mosaics, public art installations and private commissions. They collaborate with local, regional and national organizations, institutions, builders and architects in the planning and fabrication process of custom artworks and installations in a variety of mediums. Their work is vibrant and symbolic, reflecting the stories, cultures, and creative vitality of the city and its people.

The terrazzo medallion design commission was awarded to the Prado Studio by a panel of community jurors in 2021 after an international call for submissions by Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s Arts at the Airport program. The artist team collaborated with BNA representatives and fabrication team at David Allen Company (Raleigh, N.C.) to facilitate the two-year design and installation process.

Nashville's Rhythmic Skies
Artist: Eric "Mobe" Bass
Location: BNA International Arrivals Facility
Installed: September 27, 2023

Crafted and painted by Nashville’s own Eric “Mobe” Bass, “Nashville’s Rhythmic Skies” is a mural spanning over 1000 square feet that celebrates the vibrant culture of Nashville and the thrill of air travel. The mural serves as both a tribute to Nashville International Airport’s history and as a reflection of the rich culture, icons, and beauty of Music City itself, narrating a compelling story. The primary medium employed for this installation is artist-grade spray paint, providing a unique texture and appearance unattainable through other media.

“Much like a song, this mural beckons viewers to connect, ponder and uncover their own significance within the soulful rhythms of Nashville,” says Nashville artist Eric “Mobe” Bass. “Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned adventurer, Nashville’s Rhythmic Skies stands as a reminder that each journey is a distinct melody ready to be explored in the heart of Music City.”

Discover more about Mobe Studios

On Air
Artists: Jake Elliot and Eric Mobe Bass
Location: BNA® Terminal Garage 2, Ground Level
Dedicated: Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The mural “On Air” is a play on words, paying homage to the rich musical history of our city and to the role aviation plays in building our strong culture. “On Air” acts as a window from the airport into the city, pulling viewers into a depiction of a recording studio, overlooking the state-of-the-art BNA airport and iconic Nashville skyline, and inviting them to step up to the mic.

This piece was designed to give Nashvillians and visitors a fun, interactive, and snapshot-worthy experience, turning what is normally a passive, mundane activity (waiting) into something that builds memories and captures the spirit of our city.

“On Air” is a collaboration by two accomplished Nashville-based artists, Jake Elliott and Eric “Mobe” Bass. Their public art pieces can be found throughout Nashville from Charlotte Avenue to East Nashville.

Jake is the founder of WHAT. Creative Group, an arts organization focused on engaging public art pieces and Jake has a strong studio practice. Eric is a recognized muralist, known for his deep understanding of color, light, and spray precision. His murals can be seen all around Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

The Stars Come Out at Night
Artist: Guy Kemper
Fabricator: Mayer of Munich
Project description: This sculpture is composed of 12 four ft. x eight ft. Italian glass smalti mosaics with gold accents.
Dimensions: Mosaics measure 384 square feet total and are mounted on columns 30 inches in diameter.
Location: Entrance, Consolidated Rental Car Center (CONRAC)
Installed: 2021

For nearly a century, Nashville has been a destination for those seeking stardom or wanting to see a star. The legacy of Nashville's performers reigns over the skyline, and every night the story is refreshed anew. Some join the pantheon of legends, others are merely blips–shooting stars and one-hit wonders. The city is also a booming mix of other industries. Elegant and understated, this artwork reflects the emerging cosmopolitan nature of the city and emulates the night sky enjoyed by air travelers from above and below.

The Unscalable Rampart of Time
Artist: Jacob Hashimoto
Installation and site-specific development: Superabundant Atmospheres
Location: Grand Lobby Entrance, Nashville International Airport®
Installed: January 2023

Materials
9,000 kites – handmade washi paper (mulberry paper) and bamboo kites
4,800 fiberglass rods
More about the kites:

• Each kite circle measures 9-inches in diameter
• Some of the kites are printed with colorful images, including 650 unique graphics representing Nashville and Middle Tennessee
• Rivers, grasses, plants, trees and flowers are represented at the bottom of the sculpture
• Architecture, music, business, education and cultural symbols are positioned above the water, grasses, etc.
• The white kites represent the sky, clouds, aviation, planes, airports and travel

Artist statement

"In the specific case of 'The Unscalable Rampart of Time,'  I want to invoke a framework of history for the viewer, both future and past. The title encourages people to consider their own place in a cloud of histories and of souls moving through the airport, unified by shared experience of time and place (Nashville). People traveling through the airport are on their own paths, but we can only know our personal pathway (hence, the unscalability). I believe that the airport is often a space of reflection and solitude, and that there is comfort in seeing the cloudy rampart of time and experience."

Wind Reeds
Artist: Ned Kahn
Location: Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC) exterior
Dedicated: 2011

For the BNA project entitled “Wind Reeds,” artist Ned Kahn was inspired by a landscape of windswept reeds.

Kahn has completed a series of artworks that reveal invisible forces in their sites by converting natural flow patterns, such as wind, into the pixilated motion of many small metal parts. He calls these artworks “detectors,” because they are analogous to the detectors on telescopes and other scientific instruments. The typically unseen patterns of the wind are complex and entrancing. The psychological effect is similar to watching a fire, waves on a lake or tall grasses swaying in the wind.

The Wind Reeds sculpture covers a portion of the Consolidated Rental Car (CONRAC) facility with more than 500 hinged aluminum elements that sway in the wind like grasses. The surfaces of the metal panels capture color from the sky and the surrounding environment, creating an ever-changing mosaic of sky and wind currents.

The artwork is uniquely tied to the atmosphere and climate of Nashville, drawing its energy and animation directly from the moment-to-moment conditions of the local environment.

Kahn states, “My hope is that the artwork will function as a register for the ever-changing wind and create a unique kinetic portal for Nashville that will remind people of the magic and mystery of the world that we live in."