LAX EXHIBITION CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT
(Los Angeles, California – May 7, 2003) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department are marking aviation’s centennial with an exhibit entitled, "LAX Celebrates 100 Years of Powered Flight." Arriving international passengers can view the exhibit, which is located at Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX’s) Tom Bradley International Terminal in the U.S. Customs Hall on the Lower/Arrival Level. The exhibit, scheduled through December 31, 2003, has artifacts, uniforms, equipment and photographs related to the history of flight.
"The exhibit, LAX Celebrates 100 Years of Powered Flight, reminds us of the pioneers’ vision and tenacity," said LAWA Deputy Executive Director of Project Management and Facilities Planning Kim Day, who is responsible for LAWA’s Art Exhibits Program. Day added, "The Wright Brothers’ first flight continues, to this day, to inspire the next generation of aviation explorers, and LAX is proud to be part of this commemorative history."
LAX is marking its 75th anniversary this year at the same time the Wright Brothers’ historic 1903 powered flight’s 100th anniversary is being commemorated nationally.
Since 1903, tremendous advances in aviation technology, along with ingenuity and imagination, have shaped the fascinating history of powered flight. From the very first power-controlled flight, to the new age pilotless planes, this exhibition tells the inspiring story of how flight became a reality, and how Southern California played a vital role in the development of this history. The exhibition features profiles of flight pioneers such as Wilbur and Orville Wright, Bobbie Trout, Glen Curtiss, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, as well as Southern California aeronautical geniuses Jack Northrop, James H. "Dutch" Kindelberger and Donald Wills Douglas.
The exhibition includes photographs detailing the evolution of aircraft and some of the world’s greatest planes that changed the history of flight. Viewers can also glimpse into the future of flight, from the newly designed 600-passenger very large aircraft to ultralight aircraft to pilotless planes.
Miriam Smith, Ray Jacob and LuAnn Murphy of the Art Resource Group of Newport Beach, California, served as guest curators for the exhibition. Artifacts, uniforms, equipment and photographs are on loan from Austin J. Brown, The Aviation Picture Library; Dryden Flight Research Center; Mark Foster, The Air Museum Planes of Fame; Clay Lacy, Clay Lacy Aviation; Los Angeles Public Library Archives; Bruce Orriss, Los Angeles Air Heritage Foundation; Ethel L. Pattison, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA); and Davis K. Powers.
The Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department administers and provides curatorial services for the Art Exhibits Program at LAX and Ontario International (ONT) Airport, as part of a memorandum of understanding with LAWA. LAWA’s Art Exhibits Program seeks to educate, entertain and amuse the travelling public, while emphasizing a cultural experience featuring highlights of what makes Los Angeles unique and interesting. The exhibit may be artistic, historical, popular or graphic design in nature and may arise from museums, industry, design, fine art, cultures, theater, archives, sports environment, transportation, or other areas. LAWA currently has art exhibit displays in Terminals 1, 3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX and in Terminals 2 and 4 at ONT.
