Spotlight on Art at the Airport with Artist Vince Jones
If you've been to St. John's International Airport recently, you might've noticed a stunning new "seaworthy" sculpture by local artist Vince Jones.
Vince Jones’ 6 ft. tall piece, titled "Below the Blue," is made of salvaged pine that curves and bends to emulate the movement of ocean wind and waves, with hand-carved cod, capelin, squid, jellyfish and other sea creatures swimming around the circumference. A traditional fishing stage clings to the top on stilts.
The sculpture is part of the Art at the Airport initiative, which aims to enhance visitors' sense of arrival and help shape their first and last impressions of the province, while forging a deeper connection with Newfoundland and Labrador's unique character.
Below the Blue by Vince Jones. Photo credit: JAC
We chatted with Vince to dive deeper into the inspiration for his intricate piece and how it all came together.
Business & Arts NL: Your piece "Below the Blue" in the short-term parking area at St. John's International Airport is stunning! What inspired the concept for this piece?
Vince Jones: Thank you very much! I'm very happy with the way "Below the Blue" turned out and the reception the piece has received from both the public and YYT personnel.
I've always loved being on the water and spent a lot of my time as a child on the wharf watching what's happening below the waterline. Even today, one of my favourite summertime activities is taking my family out on the bay on a nice, flat, calm day, with the first stop being in shallows so the younger generation can see the interaction of life that happens below the waterline. My son and his younger cousins nicknamed this stop as "The Aquarium" and will ask even before we leave the wharf if we will be making a stop there.
Curiosity is a universal human instinct. As you fly into YYT, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a window seat, you see the vastness of the ocean. Passengers gaze out the window watching the white caps and think to themselves, "What’s down there?" This curiosity is the inspiration behind "Below the Blue" — an exploration of our coastal ecologies, giving folks a glimpse at what lies beneath the ocean surface.
Mid-production in Vince’s workshop.
Business & Arts NL: What's your method for planning pieces like this? Do you start with concept sketches or do you plot it out via other means?
Vince Jones: Once I've got the idea somewhat configured in my imagination on how the final piece should look, the next stop is selecting the right log for the project. The natural characteristics of the wood need to work with the concept and help give the piece a natural feel. For "Below the Blue" the log had a curve that helped give it a feeling of movement as the piece transitioned from ocean floor to a fishing stage that's fixed to the rocks.
Once the material has been selected the next step is a concept sketch. The concept sketch is the blueprint used for layout approvals, which gives me an idea of how to stage the actual work of carving the piece. My caveat is I'm a better carver than a drawer and things will change once the carving starts.
Business & Arts NL: This sculpture consists of so many intricate parts and you have to walk around it to truly appreciate it and soak it all in. From the initial planning to installation, how long did it take you to create this piece and what was the most enjoyable part of the process?
Vince Jones: I'm not sure how much time was involved with "Below the Blue. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you’re having fun." But I'd estimate there’s 200 hours from start to finish.
Business & Arts NL: For those visiting the province, as well as those returning home, what kind of feelings do you hope your piece will evoke?
Vince Jones: Below the blue of the sea is a whole other world full of amazing plants and animals. And if this piece grabs the attention of parents and children, and people from near and far, sparking their curiosity in our coastlines and natural environments, well that’s alright by me.
Business & Arts NL: Is there anything you'd like to add about this installation or being involved with this particular project?
Vince Jones: The process from the call for submission through to site installation at YYT was a great experience. Kudos to the SJIAA for providing local artists and craftspeople with the opportunity to display their work at YYT, and to Business & Arts NL for bridging the two worlds and bringing the right people together to make it all happen.
Is your municipality or organization considering incorporating public art into your next project? Visit Business & Arts NL's website (https://businessandartsnl.com/resources) for public art resources and toolkits, including our new Unlocking Public Art in NL: Public Art Funding and Planning Primer, which outlines practical approaches to funding, multi-sector partnerships and strategic planning.