Playful Race of Life Patterns

Artist: Jonathan Grauel

Location: Concourse A, Gate A3

Artist Statement: “Travel is a beautiful thing, yet its layered and even can be complicated in its purpose. With these paintings I endeavored to capture the joy of travel while weaving our city’s history with textiles into the thrill of NASCAR heritage. I love flying. I broke the design into flowing shapes that form pockets of pattern and places of rest. I love going to the airport. I am inspired by the bustle of people like the spindles of yarn, spinning tales of adventure. I presented the joy and anticipation of arrival using repetitions of spindles of thread bobbing with brick smoke stacks and lamp posts. I included the shapes from the old textile mill machinery mixed with caption bubbles, race track, car parts and some cars themselves. I sought to create a whimsical scene expressing how life, like travel, is a lovely pattern of experience we can enjoy together.”

Commissioned by the Arts & Science Council and the Public Art Commission in partnership with the City of Charlotte.