Smithsonian photographer Carolyn Russo, takes us on a photographic journey through the world's airports, showing the variety and architecture of control towers through the history of aviation, interpreting them as a symbol of cultural expression and testimony of the technological change we've seen since the early twentieth century.
Carolyn Russo had her first contact with control towers in 2006, on a flight into LaGuardia, when she noticed the circular windows and the details of the tower structure which is now inactive. Since then, for a period of eight years, the photographer has visited a total of 23 countries and has managed to overcome the bureaucratic process to be able to access areas that are usually restricted and document hundreds of these buildings, some of them designed by renowned architects such as Eero Saarinen, Cesar Pelli and Gert Wingårdh. In her new book The Art of the Airport Tower (Smithsonian Books, 2015), which includes more than 100 of her photographs, Russo writes:
I viewed each tower as both an essential aviation artifact and a vessel with a powerful presence, watching over the vastness of the airport and sky; a non-judgmental cultural greeter; a choreographer or conductor; a mother bird caring for her flock; an omniscient, intelligent structure keeping humans safe. In the presence of the tower, I sensed the complex orchestration of humans.
The exhibition will be at the Smithsonian Museum for a full year, until November 2016, time at which it's traveling tour begins.
Art of the Airport Tower. Carolyn Russo.
Venue.- National Air and Space Museum. Independence Ave at 6th St, Washington, DC.
Dates.- November 2015 - November 2016. Hours.- 10:00 am - 5:30 pm.
