By Marci Shatzman
Corporate jets, personal craft and flight education planes landing at Boca Raton Airport can’t miss a colorful new mural on an 8-foot high, 135 feet long security wall next to the runway.
Pilots and passengers will see a giant owl, a pilot, and other images celebrating the airport’s past, present and future as it celebrates 75 years.
The mural was their way of “sharing what the airport means to the community,” airport executive director Clara Bennett told airport authority and city council members and guests before previewing the addition with a video.
Airport Authority member Cheryl Budd headed the project that started with a call for artists that generated 10 applications, and netted the work for West Palm Beach-based painter and muralist Craig McInnis. With a website noting he favors large-scale projects, McInnis already had aviation-themed work in his portfolio. That put his application over the top, Budd said.
Three artists helped him paint the wall using a grid, after instructions to make the mural more “funky” than literal, he said.
“Our team made sure that safety was always paramount,” Bennett added, since the wall isn’t far from the runway. Guests had a chance for photo ops after being shuttled to the site.
In the works and waiting for permitting is a public observation area already designed that will be situated next to the airport administration building.
Boca Raton Airport is on 214 acres between Spanish River Boulevard and Glades Road. Nearly 300 aircraft are based at the facility that has a runway and parallel taxiway. An FAA Contract Tower located on the field is staffed 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The airport opened an onsite federal Customs and Border Protection facility for international flights in 2018. https://bocaairport.com/