Arts·JET AGE

For this floral artist, creating beautiful work anyone can connect to 'almost feels a bit radical'

Fresh flowers from artist Portia Munson's garden bloom larger than life at the Albany Airport.

Fresh flowers from artist Portia Munson's garden bloom larger than life at the Albany Airport

For this floral artist, creating beautiful work anyone can connect to 'almost feels a bit radical'

7 years ago
Duration 3:06
Fresh flowers from artist Portia Munson's garden, bloom larger than life at the Albany Airport in upstate New York.

Portia Munson's work brings the flowers from her Catskill Mountains farm to travellers passing through Albany International Airport. She says: "I love having the audience of someone who might not necessarily be a person who would go to a museum or gallery."

Munson calls herself an "environmental artist" and sees a radical side to her beautiful work in a divided time. "I'm trying to create things that are contemplative or beautiful and it almost feels a bit political or radical to do something that just about anybody can connect to."

(CBC Arts)

She slices flowers and then merges them together to create unique pieces. "None of my flowers are duplicates. I'm not digitally copying the flowers — they're all one of a kind."

I'm trying to create things that are contemplative or beautiful, and it almost feels a bit political or radical to do something that just about anybody can connect to.- Portia Munson
(CBC Arts)

"I think of these pieces that I'm doing as documenting a moment in time. what's growing and happening here in the Catskills and having it shown to travellers at the Albany airport."

Jet Age considers the evolution of airports from generic atriums into bonafide art galleries that surround and engage their visitors with stunning sculptures, architecture, and paintings. Watch all ten episodes of Jet Age now.