By Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-511096.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Catherine Cuellar: Passengers at the new Dallas Executive Airport are walking on a work of art. The terminal's colorful terrazzo floor includes design elements from navigation and weather charts, and symbols for various regional airports. Tiny pieces of marble, mother of pearl, glass, and plastic are mixed with various colors of epoxy, all polished to a high shine.
Charlotte Lindsey, artist: We're standing in the middle of the lobby and you look out to what they call the air side, the design is complete, the concrete is curing. Parallel lines here on the floor go all the way up to the windows, will continue out to the end of that sidewalk.
Cuellar: Charlotte Lindsey is one of the artists who designed Dallas Executive Airport's original artwork. Metallic lines in the floor separate sections and extend to the outside sidewalk, leading from the lobby area to runways in conference rooms in one direction and the other.
Lindsey: Let's just walk on out that way. [doors open] These lines are done in aluminum. The concrete was saw cut, then they placed the aluminum in it and put a concrete coating material to achieve the gray color. This is the first time we've seen it since they've done the final adding of the color to it.
Larry Enge, artist: They've sealed it and it looks good.
Cuellar: Larry Enge supervised the installation of this art, which Lindsay designed with Enge's wife Carol Wilder. Just after the city approved their plans in 2004, the two women were in a car crash with a drunk driver. Wilder died. Lindsey is still in physical therapy, and the crash caused partial vision loss.
Lindsey: It's changed my whole life, and my art is a big part of my life. In terms of my vision, it's been therapeutic to do art. The more I do that, the easier it becomes. I make jewelry and art that has some pretty intricate cutting involved and I've been able to do that. Anytime you have a victory like that, it helps push you forward in your recovery.
Cuellar Enge, also an artist, was not only married to Wilder for 22 years - they also worked as creative collaborators for a decade. Since Wilder's death, Enge and Lindsey have helped each other recuperate through their art.
Enge: It was actually therapeutic for me to be helping Charlotte. Part of my nature is a caregiver type person and after Carol passed I knew I could not go into my little corner and grieve. I knew that would not work, would not be healthy. So I started accepting things that people offered me, opportunities and involvement. For me, reaching out for Charlotte was something healthy for me to do.
Lindsey: Even to now, people are coming in just as we need it and their gifts. It's a mosaic or a tapestry, pieces coming together.
Cuellar: Enge and Lindsey are still putting pieces together following the crash. This February, the drunk driver who killed Wilder was sentenced to three years in prison plus 10 years probation. Enge and Lindsey have partnered under the name Montage/4861 to pursue more public art projects, including two DART stations for the new line to Carrollton, and a park and trail in Frisco. And at Dallas Executive Airport, Wilder and Lindsey's sidewalk design leading from the terminal to the tarmac - inspired by aviation approach and holding patterns - is scheduled for completion next week.
For KERA 90.1, I'm Catherine Cuellar
More on the web:
Wilder/Enge Collaborations
In Memory of Carol Lynn Wilder-Enge