New Art Installations at MSP

Degas said, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.”

A new art installation at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, focused on welcoming those of every race, creed, national and sexual orientation, makes airport visitors see a world of love, acceptance and unity — a concept Degas would likely applaud.

The installation started in March and was completed in early August. The first installation, “Star of the North,” is based on the Minnesota state motto adopted in 1861. The piece is 6 feet tall, made of aluminum and covered with a holographic rainbow vinyl, and inside the star is a crystal prism lit to show tiny light rainbows on the ground below the star. The star uses rainbows to be both aesthetically beautiful and to impart the message that anybody and everybody is welcome in Minnesota.

The second installation, “Aurora Borealis,” brings the colors of the Northern Lights to life. The installation is 60 feet long by 6 feet tall. In the middle of the series of images is a rainbow diamond made of clear acrylic rods, illuminated with LED color lights.

The third display is titled “Leap of Joy,” inspired by Henri Matisse and the Fauves’ painting, “Bonheur de Vivre.”

The pieces, created by artist Philip Noyed, are the first major art installations at MSP in 15 years.