In Transit

Traveling can lead to a lot of "hurry up and wait". 

Airports, for the most part, are bland waypoints that can lead to existential angst, making one wonder why you have decided to embark on a journey that moments before you were pronouncing your life's mission. Heathrow very much makes me question the meaning of life.

But other airports are trying to make the transition period a little less bleak.

I saw two guys playing a game on the wall at Seatac, just past security.

A simple matching game, I couldn't tell if the guys were playing cooperatively or competitively, but providing entertainment is a nice gesture from the airport, acknowledging the inherent boredom of the place.

I've been to O'Hare a few times, but all for domestic connections (and one trip actually to Chicago). The main terminal is fine, but it's not a place that encourages wandering. That's too bad, because a terminal is a great place to show off the city for those who can't escape the airport and need a little leg stretching between flights.
I was happy to see three different art collections in the international terminal.

The first was a collection of benches designed and created by local teenagers part of an after school program.

Right above many of the benches was the second, a collection of 50 images highlighting one aspect of each state of the union.

I appreciate the image selected for my home state of Washington. It's always been a point of pride to have the only temperate rain forest in the world.

The third collection was a series of abstract sculptures created by Jerzy Kenar.

Kenar came to prominence in the 90's when these pieces were commissioned and he plays a large role in the Polonia (Polish diaspora) in Chicago.

The final piece featured today was not a part of a collection, just a single piece showcasing the art of one of Chicago's sister cities, Petra, Jordan.

A lovely mosaic of the The Treasury at Petra.