Rainmaker's Baggage - Norman Andersen
Where is it?
Baggage Claim
You will find this delightful artwork on Baggage Carousel 8.
About the Art
In the literal sense, Norman Andersen's Rainmaker's Baggage is hard to miss: the quirky bits of vintage luggage strung up on a steel rod are eye-catching. The kinetic sculpture combines old luggage to represent the travel industry with the sound of rain, an allusion to the local weather. The sculpture is activated when baggage arrives; travel cases (modified into rain stick-like instruments) rotate on three independent shafts while acrylic sheets below shake occasionally to make rumbling, thunder-like sounds.
"Once I create these things, it's like having a kid [...] I sort of hope I can give it some guidance, but it's really on its own to do what it wants." – Norman Andersen
The Details
Artist
Norman Andersen
Date
2005
Medium
Kinetic sculpture (steel, vintage and unusual travel cases, programmable motors)
Dimensions
8' high x 32' wide x 6' in depth
Did you know?
When Andersen was working on Rainmaker’s Baggage, he had to scrounge around on eBay for some of the luggage.
About the Artist
A resident of Minneapolis (and a part-time resident of Cable, Wisconsin), Norman Andersen has been avidly creating kinetic and sound sculpture for nearly forty years. He uses a plethora of materials, from secondhand suitcases seen in the piece at Sea-Tac to broken musical instruments, to create his one-of-a-kind pieces.
Short Bio
Norman Andersen attended Kansas City Art Institute and Minneapolis College of Art and Design, receiving his B.F.A. in 1976. He later obtained his M.A. in 1997 from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He retired from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, having taught as a professor at the school for twenty-five years. He has been awarded numerous grants and fellowships while working in Minnesota. Andersen has been shown internationally in solo exhibitions since 1976 in places like Germany and the Netherlands.
Similar Artwork
At the Airport
The noise and movement of Rainmaker's Baggage has been catching unsuspecting travelers off-guard since 2005. Interested in other unexpected artworks at Sea-Tac Airport? Visit Jim Green's Talking Drinking Fountains and be pleasantly surprised by its quirks. Follow the STQRY link below in the Connected Stories section for details.
Connected Stories
Rainmaker's Baggage - Norman Andersen
Don't miss the colorful, twirling sculpture of vintage suitcases near Carousel 8.