The Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County have selected three public art commissions as part of ILM’s terminal expansion.(Over thirty submissions were received in response to the RFP.) The public art pieces capture the spirit of the coastal Cape Fear Region through permanent installations that welcome ILM’s patrons, enhance the facility, and contribute to the local cultural aesthetic.
“We received a lot of great art submissions from our community that showcased the incredible talent we have locally. The three selected art pieces really stood out and will bring a new, local feeling to the airport for anyone who flies in or out of New Hanover County. Each is unique and represents the beauty of our region, and will complement the newly-renovated look and feel of our airport,” stated Julia Olson-Boseman, New Hanover County Airport Authority Board Member and member of the Artist Selection Committee.
Two (2) separate terrazzo floor designs were awarded to 1) the collaborative team of Paul Hill and Jeff Hackney and 2) Jill Webb. Paul Hill and Jeff Hackney’s design “Venus Flytrap” is a two-dimensional design that will be located before the security checkpoint in a high-ceiling atrium area in the center of the main terminal. The Venus Flytrap has become a symbol of Wilmington and southeastern North Carolina; showcasing a unique attribute of our community. Jill Webb’s design “Loggerhead Labyrinth”, is a two-dimensional design that will be located post-security. Labyrinths are ancient symbols which invite playful interaction as well as mindful contemplation. It will provide a sense of peace and fun for children and adults in the airport. The inclusion of loggerhead sea turtles is a reminder of the Cape Fear Region’s coastal beauty. The path to the center of this labyrinth is an homage to sea turtles’ heroic annual journey from their nests to the Atlantic.
The design, fabrication, and installation of one (1) three-dimensional artwork was awarded to a collaborative creative team consisting of Paul Hill and Greg Hall. The collaborative team was selected to create and install a three-dimensional “Laurel Oak Tree” sculpture. This sculpture is a replica of the Laurel Oak tree and will be made of a stainless-steel trunk, branches and leaves and will encompass an open space post security; adjacent to the “Loggerhead Labyrinth.” The aim of the sculpture is to create a comforting, organic and natural atmosphere; creating a calm space for travelers between flights. A plaque on a plexiglass stand with a finished burl slab will be engraved with information about the tree’s significance to the region.
“We are proud to showcase our local arts community while presenting a special sense of place to our travelers. These artworks will uniquely express Southeastern North Carolina and our coastal environment beginning December 2021,” shared Granseur Dick, ILM Facilities Director.
Site 1: Venus Flytrap (mock-up, subject to change)
Artists: Paul Hill, lead artist, and Jeff Hackney, artist and sculptor
The Design:
The Venus Flytrap has become a symbol of Wilmington and southeastern North Carolina. The plant grows only in this region and has become a protected species. The image is enhanced by the bronze forms used by terrazzo artists to separate the colors.
Paul Hill, a metal sculptor and painter, studied Fine Art & Design at Kent State University from 1966 – 1974. The untimely school delay was due to military service from 1967 – 1971 during the Vietnam War. From 1975 through 1985, Paul worked in various advertising agencies as Art Director and Creative Director for national clients such as Firestone Tire, Alcoa Aluminum et al.
Beginning in the early 90’s, Paul put down his brush and picked up a torch. His steel and mixed media sculptures are now seen in numerous corporate, residential, and public collections along the Eastern Seaboard. His work is permanently displayed at North Carolina Veteran’s Park, Fayetteville, North Carolina; won “Best in Show” at the Cary Visual Arts National Sculpture Competition, Cary, North Carolina; Biennial Sculpture Show, Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Detroit Diesel, MTU; Detroit, Michigan.
His sculpture, Southern Hospitality, a metal and glass rendering of the Venus Flytrap is a beloved attraction on Wilmington’s riverfront.
Paul Hill has collaborated with Jeff Hackney, a fellow sculptor and graphic designer. Jeff’s experience in public sculpture, construction, and restoration work, as well as graphic design support a design that can be readily translated into terrazzo.
Jeff Hackney is an independent graphic designer and design consultant who served as the creative consultant for Technique Mirage in Atlanta, Georgia. He created a one of a kind, hand painted, 12-inch wide motion film that was projected across the entire face of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, for its centennial celebration, Images in Motion. Graphic design work for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill included an award-winning design for the North Carolina Literary Festival. He also worked for Kaleidoscope Graphics, Fourth Media, and Southern Belle, all of Atlanta, Georgia.
Site 2: Loggerhead Labyrinth (mock-up, subject to change)
Artist: Jill Webb
The Design:
Beauty. Peace. Local. Fun.
Labyrinths are ancient symbols which invite playful interaction as well as mindful contemplation. Unlike a confusing maze, a labyrinth has only one path and is soothing. We expect this one will be used to give restless children an activity and provide an unusual bit of peace and fun for adventurous adults in our airport. Travelers are often drawn to our area for the coastal beauty and the loggerhead sea turtles are a friendly reminder of that. The path to the center of this labyrinth is an homage to their heroic annual journey from their nests to the Atlantic. The baby turtles, cut from brass (image 03), mark the path into the center. Aggregate will include seashells. The colors used will mirror the colors of the sand and sea. It would be especially effective if additional brass sea turtles and shells could be inset into other areas of the airport to continue the theme and provide a bit of surprise, like a treasure hunt.
Public artist Jill Webb is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill where she earned a BA in Journalism. From 1992-2001, she worked in the film and television industries as an Assistant Director and Assistant Camera. In 2009, she won the Wilmington Business Journal and Cape Fear Green Builders Alliance’s Green Living Award for Riverfront Fountain and Elevated Park designs. She co-designed the Micro-Park at 200 Market St for 1000 People Who Care.
Jill has also created numerous murals in Wilmington and Asheville, including at two Friends Schools, Cape Fear Academy, Old Books on Front, and the Brooklyn Arts District in Wilmington, as well as Mountain Valley Water in Asheville.
Site 3: Laurel Oak Tree (mock-up, subject to change)
Artists: Paul Hill and Greg Hall
The Design:
This sculpture is a replica of the Laurel Oak tree made of stainless-steel trunk, branches and leaves encompassing the space of site 3. A plaque on a Plexiglas stand with a finished burl slab will be engraved with information about the tree’s significance to the region.
Paul Hill, a metal sculptor and painter, studied Fine Art & Design at Kent State University from 1966 – 1974. The untimely school delay was due to military service from 1967 – 1971 during the Vietnam War. From 1975 through 1985, Paul worked in various advertising agencies as Art Director and Creative Director for national clients such as Firestone Tire, Alcoa Aluminum et al.
Beginning in the early 90’s, Paul put down his brush and picked up a torch. His steel and mixed media sculptures are now seen in numerous corporate, residential, and public collections along the Eastern Seaboard. His work is permanently displayed at North Carolina Veteran’s Park, Fayetteville, North Carolina; won “Best in Show” at the Cary Visual Arts National Sculpture Competition, Cary, North Carolina; Biennial Sculpture Show, Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Detroit Diesel, MTU; Detroit, Michigan.
His sculpture, Southern Hospitality, a metal and glass rendering of the Venus Flytrap is a beloved attraction on Wilmington’s riverfront.
Greg Hall is a UNCW graduate who earned his B.A. in sculpture, design, and ceramics. As a welder and fabricator, Greg has assisted in the hand fabrication of custom metal sculpture commissions for public and private buyers. He has a passion for maximizing the functionality of unique spaces as well as creating aesthetic atmospheres conducive to stimulating their performance and customer experience.
