Samson

I Was in Sacramento on business over the weekend. Pretty boring trip, but I did snap these two shots at the airport. Pretty cool as far as public art goes in my book.



I was thinking how cool it would be to try climbing to the top--except for the whole getting arrested part after I came down.

I just Googled the display, and here's what I found:

SAMSON
by Brian Goggin
1998

"SAMSON" is two 23-foot tall pillars constructed of over 700 pieces of refurbished luggage dating from the conceptual genesis of the airplane to the present. The sculpture is attached to the exterior of the existing columns using a concealed steel bracing system. At the base of the towers of luggage are large carts, designed to emulate the luggage carts which are used by personnel to haul suitcases from the airport to the airplane. To the disoriented traveler, the proliferation of baggage will be toweringly awesome while at the same time refreshingly humorous.

Visually, the baggage supports the airport ceiling, just as the travelers who use the airport metaphorically support the space itself. If the carts were to move, the roof itself might come tumbling down.

Through luggage, we can see portraits of former travelers, the unique qualities of the bags seemingly imbued with aspects of their former owner's personalities. One is invited to imagine the object's hidden stories, how their owners packed belongings, the travels they might have taken together. The simple act of looking becomes a point of departure for the imagination.