Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Two of the most loved art installations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are two of its largest and most interactive pieces.

Circling (above) is a labyrinth of curved glass panels more than 30 feet in diameter. Sculptor Christopher Janney created the piece as a soothing and contemplative game for airport visitors, and many enjoy experiencing it every day. 

Passengers on the upper levels of Terminal D can clearly see the sculpture’s four sections of concentric circles. But from ground level, it appears more like a maze or series of translucent veils. There’s even a riddle in the center. When guests solve it correctly, the sculpture responds with lights and soothing regional sounds such as birds and other animals. 

“As an artist, it is my concern that public spaces not only have a unique sense of place, but also are places of creative rest—not only visually interesting but physically engaging to pass the long hours waiting,” says Janney. “To that end, this conceptual proposal attempts to make people both aware of the scale and beauty of this grand space while, at the same time, develop a sense of ownership, a sense of it being their place through creative play with interactive systems.”

Crystal Mountain (below) is also extremely popular with DFW travelers. Dennis Oppenheim’s 45-foot-tall aluminum-frame sculpture includes an arched tunnel through the center that is wide enough for two-way pedestrian traffic. Adults and children alike both delight in passing through the jagged artwork on their way to the gate area. In the artist’s words, the piece explores the “innate relationship to movement and human experience of space as it is traversed.”

Not surprisingly, Crystal Mountain is a common spot for photos and selfies. And it undoubtedly inspires plenty of Frozen-themed stories and play from families traveling with children. What better way to pass time before boarding than an imaginative romp in Anna and Elsa’s castle?

The massive art installation also serves as a wayfinding element, because it is visible from the entire village on the north side of Terminal D.