Art is the bridge that welcomes travelers in — and calls them back again.
Discover the new RDM Terminal Expansion Art Program — featuring regional and national artists, cultural stories, and the landscapes that define Central Oregon. Explore artworks, learn about the artists, and connect to the places that inspired them. Upon installation, these artworks will serve as both a warm welcome to arriving travelers and an invitation for departing passengers to return and explore more of Central Oregon’s natural beauty and artistic vibrancy.
Selected Artworks
Below is the first look at the proposed artworks for the terminal expansion, including conceptual renderings and brief descriptions of each artwork. These materials represent early design intent and will continue to develop as the project progresses. Check back regularly and follow us on social media for updates throughout the project.
Smith Rock: The Ropy Wall by Manca Ahlin
“Smith Rock: The Ropy Wall” is a hand‑woven rope installation that reinterprets Central Oregon’s iconic rock formations through intricate lace‑inspired construction. Using natural agricultural fibers in varied tones, the artwork reflects the geological diversity of the region’s volcanic landscape.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: Manca Ahlin
Layers of the Land by Wildheart Designs
An abstract mural crafted from natural Central Oregon pigments, expressing the region’s geological strata, seasonal rhythms, and interconnected ecosystems.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: Wildheart Designs
Artwork by J. Chester Armstrong
This sculpture by J. Chester Armstrong honors the rivers, wildlife, and cultural histories of Central Oregon through an intuitively carved ponderosa pine form that functions as a contemporary story pole depicting fish, wildlife, people, and movement intertwined in a single flowing form.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: J. Chester Armstrong
The Waking Land by John Maggiora
“The Waking Land” by Redmond Oregon native and emerging artist John Maggiora is a layered, motion‑driven mural that draws from Central Oregon’s living landscapes and is designed to unfold for viewers as they ascend the terminal’s staircase and escalator.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: John Maggiora
Artwork by Kyle Ocean
Oregon native Kyle Ocean’s proposed steel installation uses topography, patina, and the flowing form of local waterbodies to create a site‑specific work that brings the surrounding Central Oregon landscape into the heart of the terminal.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: Kyle Ocean
Artwork by Aya Morton
Oregon artist Aya Morton’s hand‑painted tile diptych celebrates the timeless beauty of the Metolius River, blending personal history, regional ecology, and luminous illustration into a landscape that unfolds across two walls of the terminal.
Explore the story behind the artwork | Artist Website: Aya Morton
About the Terminal Expansion Art Program
Artwork for the Redmond Municipal Airport terminal expansion was selected through a formal competitive solicitation as part of the RDM Public Art Program. The program is aimed at curating an immersive and inspiring art experience that reflects the values, heritage, and identity of Central Oregon—from its Indigenous and pioneering histories to its dynamic present. Through this process, the City sought artworks that create a memorable impression of both Redmond and the broader region, integrating seamlessly into public spaces throughout the terminal.
The solicitation was open to emerging and established artists and artist teams across the United States, with a strong preference for those connected to Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Artists were encouraged to bring diverse perspectives, with the program emphasizing cultural authenticity and prioritizing proposals created by individuals with lived experience, heritage, or meaningful connection to the cultures represented in their work.
All eligible submissions were evaluated by the Airport’s Art Selection Panel, a group composed of local artists, arts professionals, tribal and cultural representatives, Airport stakeholders, and City staff. The panel was appointed by the Redmond City Council and charged with stewarding an inclusive, regionally reflective, and high‑quality public art program. Panelists reviewed artist qualifications and proposals using established criteria, including artistic excellence and innovation; connection to Central Oregon and alignment with curatorial themes; integration with architecture and passenger experience; feasibility; and the reasonableness of the proposed project budget.
Selected concepts will continue to evolve as the project advances through the artwork refinement phase.
| PANELIST | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|
| Angela Smith | Warm Springs Museum |
| Cat Zwicker | Redmond City Councilor |
| Darlene Veenhuizen | Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places |
| Dustin Cockerham | High Desert Museum |
| Mel Archer | Dry Canyon Arts Association |
| Patti Adair | Deschutes County Commissioner |
| Sam Johnson | Visit Bend |
| Tracy Thille | Redmond Resident |
| Zachary Bass | Airport Director |
Timeline
Learn more about the Terminal Expansion Project.