Pre-Flight Art at CLT Airport

A feather provided inspiration for the artwork concept.

The sculpture welcomes travelers coming and going at North Billy Graham Parkway and R.C. Josh Birmingham Parkway.

The sculpture is one of the largest public artworks in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

The artwork, which evokes flight and ascension, is made of steel and dichroic glass.

This work uses the metaphor of cloth – in which separate strands are woven together to become one strong fabric – to connect present-day Charlotte to the traditions of the region’s native people.

“Old Growth,” the 40-foot, 20-ton sculpture at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Wilson Air Center.

After developing this concept for the artwork, Haley designed each block to fit square and true, building a machine to weld the 1,500 linear square-feet of corners in the public artwork.

Hoss Haley shipped 27 corten steel blocks from his Asheville studio to Charlotte on the back of three semi flatbed.

He experimented by building a smaller model at his studio before erecting the larger version in Charlotte.

After assembling the massive sculpture, Haley and assistant Justin Turcotte spent the next two weeks continuing to weld and bolt the pieces together.

The manmade tree oak makes an immediate and impressive statement to visitors as soon as they turn on to the tree-lined drive leading to the air center.