Artist Wilson Crawford recently painted Thumper Meets
the Airport Expansion to protest a proposal to lengthen the runway
in Taos, N.M. The painting shows giant airplane wheels squishing a
rabbit against a backdrop of purple mountains and blue sky. Along
with more than 100 artists, Crawford donated his work to a two-week
exhibit, Quiet Skies, which ran in January. The artists say a
longer runway would allow jets to arrive directly from Los Angeles,
aggravating Taos’ tourism congestion. They also say it could direct
more planes over the 2,000-person Taos Pueblo and its adjacent
48,000-acre wilderness area. Tribal officials fear 600-year-old
tribal buildings may crumble from sonic booms, and they say private
pilots frequently intrude on private religious ceremonies, flying
as low as 60 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration plans to
complete an environmental impact statement by 1995, which will
comprehensively analyze impacts on both the town and the tribe,
says coordinator Joy Porter. Meanwhile, the Quiet Skies exhibit
earned more than $1,000, which artist Jean-Louis Bourgeois says
will go towards a lawsuit if the FAA suggests approval for the
longer runway. For information, call the Philip Bareiss Gallery
(505/776-2284).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Painting for quieter skies.
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