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Staff presents artist recommendations for AUS AEDP Phase 2 public-art opportunities; selection panel favored several Texas-based and Austin artists
Summary
Art-in-Public-Places staff presented recommended artists for six Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) sites as part of the Airport Expansion and Development Program (AEDP) Phase 2; the commission heard the panel's deliberations and asked clarifying questions but no final board action was recorded in the transcript.
Jaime Castillo, manager for Art in Public Places (AIPP), presented the panel's recommended artists for six public-art opportunities tied to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion (AEDP Phase 2): midfield concourse, departures ticketing, arrivals/baggage claim, arrivals curbside, an elevated pedestrian bridge and lower-level pedestrian crossings.
Castillo summarized the three-phase selection plan for AEDP public art: a limited-entry national nominator phase (Phase 1), a Texas open call (Phase 2 — the subject of the presentation) and an Austin-area open call (Phase 3). For Phase 2 the panel convened with selection members from across Texas, reviewed 95 completed applications, and identified recommended artists and alternates for each site.
Panel recommendations included Virginia Montgomery for the midfield concourse (alternate: Carlin Ray), Gilberto Rocha for departures/ticketing (alternate: Jose Rafael Vargas Suarez), Jasmine Zalaya for arrivals/baggage claim (alternate: Jasmine Bedard), Steve Parker for arrivals/curbside (alternate: Brad Oldham), Hillebrand and Maximin for the elevated pedestrian bridge (alternate: Rocky Jane), and a recommended two-site award to Aneida Bradbury with Raul Buitrago recommended for the remaining crossing (alternate: Kemba Opio).
Castillo explained the panel's rationale for assigning two lower-level pedestrian sites to a single artist: scores for the top two artists were close and the panel determined a "parallel experience" and a central experiential element from a single artist would make a coherent passenger experience. AIPP staff clarified that if an awarded artist dropped out, the panel would discuss whether alternates would assume sites.
Commissioners questioned the decision to award two crossings to one artist rather than spread the three sites among different artists. Staff described a scoring matrix and a curatorial discussion that led to the panel's recommendation, noting small score deltas and an emphasis on passenger experience.
The transcript records the staff presentation and commissioner questions; it does not record a commission vote or formal approval on the selection recommendations in the provided excerpt. Staff said Phase 3 (Austin-area open call) was underway with eligibility reviews and interviews anticipated in May.
No formal approval or vote on the Phase-2 recommendations is recorded in the meeting transcript provided here.
