Artists: Paul Kittelson & Carter Ernst (Houston, TX)
Title: Take Off
Completion Date: January 2010
Medium: stainless steel
Funding Source: Percent for Art – City of Houston, Houston Airport System
Location: 7800 Airport Boulevard at Broadway
Council District I

From the air, Houston appears a city nestled within a beautiful green, lush landscape. Meandering bayous, nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries are intermingled with neighborhoods, office buildings and industrial complexes. Both urban and wild, Take Off is a tribute to this co-existence.

Measuring approximately 30’ in diameter and 20’ in height, this over-sized stainless steel bird’s nest appears to float above a natural garden of sub-tropical plantings. The inter-woven branches create a stylized, animated display of glimmering lines. This natural form of architecture, rendered in industrial materials, is reminiscent of our bustling, contemporary city set amid the coastal plains. Serving as a welcoming beacon to the City of Houston, the graceful form transforms the front entrance of the airport.

 

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