BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport unveiled its fifth installment of local youth artwork, En Plane Air, on Thursday, June 7th. The installation highlights the unique way creating art can provide comfort and security during challenging times.
The colorful exhibition of 27 umbrellas – made of painted paper plates with pipe cleaners – was created by children of Broward County employees ages 4-13 who worked through Hurricane Irma in September 2017 at the County’s Emergency Operations Center. The umbrellas symbolically provided a source of safety for the children from the hurricane-force rain and wind.
On view through September, the exhibition is in Terminal 2, located pre-security on the departures level. This new installment is a collaboration between Broward County's Aviation Department and Cultural Division.
“It’s refreshing to know that during a time of intense preparation for an impending hurricane, our essential employees’ children were safe and creating art,” said Mark Gale, CEO/Director of Aviation. “This art now adorns a wall at FLL for all our guests to experience. We applaud the parents, the children and the creative thinkers who found a way to keep these children entertained during a difficult time in which their parents were serving Broward County residents.”
Creating art in the 24-hour childcare room provided an opportunity for the children of essential County employees during Irma’s 48-hour mandated "lockdown", an opportunity to express their imaginations through art with the simple materials that were on hand.
“As a member of the County’s emergency response team, it was great to see art actively provide a powerful respite and therapeutic outlet for my colleagues’ children during a high-energy event,” said Cultural Division Acting Director, Leslie Fordham.
Also on view is En Plane Air 4, Seeing Florida My Way, which has moved to the Terminal 3-4 connector, post-security and adjacent to Concourse F. This exhibition features works by Roosevelt Gardens Park summer camp students who portrayed their favorite aspects of Florida in individual paintings.
About the Broward Cultural Division
Broward Cultural Division is a local arts agency, one of thousands across the U.S. providing financial, technical and marketing assistance to artists and arts organizations. Broward County has nearly 1.9 million residents, 15.4 million visitors, 10,000 artists, 6,291 arts-related businesses employing 23,498 people, 823 not-for-profit cultural organizations and 31 cities, some of which operate their own arts councils and public art programs. Visit our website and follow us @BrowardArts on Twitter and Facebook.
About Broward's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
The Aviation Department is a self-supporting department of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. It does not rely on local tax dollars for operations and capital improvements. FLL is located in Greater Fort Lauderdale in the heart of Florida's Gold Coast. In 2017, the Airport ranked 19th in the United States in total passenger traffic and 14th in domestic origin and destination passengers. With more than 700 flights a day, the Airport offers nonstop service to more than 75 US cities and global connectivity to more than 60 international destinations in 33 countries. The Aviation Department also operates the North Perry Airport, a general aviation airport for private and charter aircraft operators. Call 954-359-6100 for more information. For updates on airport programs and services, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit fll.net.
DATE: June 15, 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Meredith Clements
Broward Cultural Division
PHONE: 954-357-7463
EMAIL: mclements@broward.org