Luggage Thoughts
2025
Aluminum, Steel, CORAFOAM, & Split-Flap Units
I created four kinetic works of art for the New Pittsburgh International Airport baggage claim platforms, numbers 1 through 4. Each vibrant artwork features an oversized piece of luggage with a playful thought bubble floating above it. These thought bubbles share ever-changing messages, offering a glimpse into the whimsical inner musings of each suitcase. The split-flap technology gently rotates the text, evoking the nostalgic sights and sounds that so many travelers fondly remember from bustling transportation hubs of years past.
Photo Credits by John Peña unless otherwise noted.
Video Sample of Split-Flap Display in Motion
Photo credit: Kevin Lorenzi. Courtesy of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Art.
Photo credit: Kevin Lorenzi. Courtesy of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Art.
Photo credit: Kevin Lorenzi. Courtesy of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Art.
Credits:
This work was made as part of the Terminal Modernization Program for PIT Transformed and the new Pittsburgh International Airport. Special thanks to the following wonderful individuals who made this work possible:
Renee Piechocki, Art Consultant to ACAA
Keny Marshall, Manager of Arts and Culture, ACAA
Stephen Streibig, Lead Fabricator and Installation Team Leader at Iontank. He and his team fabricated the sculptures and integrated the split-flap technology into the final thought balloons.
Sean Rossiter, Kristy Nicolo, and Jon Salmon at Oat Foundry LLC for the incredible guidance, engineering, fabrication, and assistance with the integration of the custom split-flap units.
Ray Appleby at Technique Architectural Products for fabricating the metal luggage components
Lastly, A SPECIAL thanks to the Airport staff, workers, volunteers, and travelers who contributed to my initial prompt: “If your luggage could think, what would it think about?” Many individuals submitted their ideas via an online survey and a written postcard. I used many of these ideas as initial springboards that developed into the final text on display.