Journey/Home - Larry Kirkland

Where is it?

Concourse D

At the end of Concourse D, this artwork is suspended from the ceiling below the skylight.

About the Art

An aluminum and dichroic glass boat flies with suspended, wing-like oars above the terrazzo floor. The green terrazzo shadow is comprised of approximately seventy bronze elements that represent the Northwest. Cut-outs in the sides of the boat reveal images of tools, plants, and animals. These are the things, according to the artist, that make up a life. The top of the form is open to allow natural and artificial light to illuminate the glass images, creating a glowing and reflective form.

"I am using the boat as a metaphor for the individual in life's journey. In many cultures, from the ancient Greeks to the Indonesians, the boat suggests more than a conveyance. It is the spirit of each person as they travel through life." – Larry Kirkland

The Details

Artist

Larry Kirkland

Date

1992

Medium

​Multi-media installation (terrazzo floor pattern, wood, dichroic glass)

Dimensions

Boat measures 32' in length x 2' 6" wide with thirty 16' wooden oars above a terrazzo pattern measuring 3' 8" in length x 10' wide

Did you know?

The "shadow boat," the artist suggests, is meant to symbolize "the past or future or a larger community."

About the Artist

Since 1981, Kirkland has been commissioned for public art pieces throughout the nation. Working with designers and members of the community, Kirkland creates cohesive installations at a grand scale that reflect this collaborative effort. He is known to frequently create pieces that are multi-dimensional, incorporating into the artwork the surroundings and the function of the environment.

Short Bio

Kirkland received his B.S. from Oregon State University in environmental design and his M.F.A. in design from the University of Kansas. His formal education has informed the content of his pieces. His commissions can be found at Pennsylvania Station in New York, Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, and in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building at his alma mater, Oregon State University.

Similar Artwork

At the Airport

For Kirkland, the journey does not denote the route of transportation, but the voyage of the soul. Linda Beaumont, an artist also shown at the Sea-Tac Airport, views the journey as a state of meditative limbo. See how she expresses that in her piece at the Rental Car Facility titled Spinning Our Wheels. Click on the STQRY link in the Connected Stories section below to view Beaumont's wheels.

Journey/Home - Larry Kirkland

This boat is a metaphor for life's journey. From the ancient cultures, the boat suggests the spirit of each person as they travel through life.