Description

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Art of the Airport Tower is a photographic journey to airports in the U.S. and around the world. This book, the companion volume to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum exhibition of the same name, explores 85 historic and contemporary airport towers through more than 100 fine art photographs by Carolyn Russo.

Russo's photography makes these ordinary structures extraordinary: more than mere aviation artifacts, they are monumental abstractions, symbols of cultural expression, and testimonies of technological change. The first impression travelers have when they reach a new city or country may well be the tower; as such, it is often an embodiment of important symbols and values. For example, at the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in Sweden, two lookout points perch like birds at the top of the control tower in reference to two protective ravens from Nordic mythology. The Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in China features wavy structures designed to look like scrolls of silk delicately sheltering passengers below. Russo's striking photographs capture these features, and informative captions describe their architectural, cultural, and technological significance. An introduction by Smithsonian commercial aviation expert F. Robert van der Linden tells the history of airport towers to contextualize Russo's work. Art of the Airport Tower is a stunning book that brings a heightened awareness to the architectural beauty and historical significance of these structures.

About the Author

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CAROLYN RUSSO has worked at the National Air and Space Museum since 1988 as a staff photographer and as a museum specialist in the Aeronautics Division with the National Air and Space Museum art collection. She is the author of several books, most recently In Plane View: Abstractions of Flight.

Praise For…

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"... a fascinating book..."  The New York Times

"... (a) big, beautiful photographic survey of 85 historic and contemporary air traffic control towers from around the world and throughout history..."  Architectural Record

"These Photos Will Change How You Look at Airport Towers."  Atlas Obsura

"Russo, who works for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, has recently completed a nine-year quest to capture 100 control towers in 23 countries, documenting their stark, sometimes surreal architecture in a series of powerful images."  CNN

"Russo’s striking photographs and informative captions reveal the architectural, cultural, and technological significance of each of the featured towers. This one-of-a-kind view of airport towers will change the way you think about flight."  Digicult

"Stark, closely cropped within their frames, and rendered in high contrast, Russo’s towers are often imposing and intimidatingly tall — yet elegant — and stand as grand industrial feats that command the landscape."  Hyperallergic

"Devotees of art photography and aviation history alike will savor this unusual and well-researched look at these important airport sentinels."  Foreword

"The photos are beautiful black and white prints that highlight the modern architecture and distinct design of each structure."  Travel + Leisure