Nude Art at Airport to Remain au Naturel

The depictions of giant nude men etched into the granite and terrazzo floor at a Los Angeles International Airport terminal satisfy the city’s design specifications and will remain uncovered, members of the city’s Cultural Affairs Commission ruled Thursday.

The panel’s vote to continue displaying the artwork came amid much finger-pointing over who initially ordered the nudes covered with brown paper. The wraps were taken off July 19, pending a decision by the commission on the propriety of the work.

No one appeared ready to identify the airport official or employees who initially complained about the images of naked men, which artist Susan Narduli had sandblasted into the floor as part of a $245-million renovation of the American Airlines terminal.

But one airport official worried openly last month that someone might be offended. What about an Amish couple arriving in the airport? Wouldn’t they be alarmed by the images of naked bodies, leaping as if in flight?

The work was part of nearly $1 million in public art required by the city as part of the airlines’ improvements at Terminal No. 4. Narduli said the piece is meant to evoke man’s age-old yearning to fly.

But airport officials asked the Cultural Affairs Commission to revisit the issue. The airport managers suggested that Narduli’s artwork differed significantly from the preliminary drawings the city approved in 1999.

Commission President Lee Ramer, whose board gave initial approval to the artwork, said after Thursday’s brief hearing that she and other commissioners saw no reason to withdraw their approval.

In reaffirming their support for the work, Ramer said, “It’s difficult for us only because we don’t like to disappoint another department of the city.”

But, she added, “We do not want to continue to reassess [the artwork]. Our initial statement remains.”

LAX officials had said initially that the airport’s own commission might review the matter. But on Thursday, LAX spokeswoman Nancy Castles said the agency would live with the decision of the cultural affairs panel.

“We respect their decision, which is to allow the artwork to remain on display,” Castles said.

She said complaints, if there are any, would be forwarded to American Airlines.

Castles would not identify the person or persons whose complaints triggered the controversy. She said only that “some” airport employees brought the issue to the attention of management.

As to who requested that the artwork be covered with paper, Castles said it was American Airlines.

But American Airlines spokesman Al Becker said workers covered up the art at the request of LAX.

Becker said he considered the controversy closed.

“We believe the art is very tastefully done. We see nothing objectionable about it,” Becker said. “All we wanted to do was create art in our terminal that would be pleasing to our customers.”

“I’m hoping it’s over,” said Narduli after emerging from the cultural affairs board meeting with her attorney and about a dozen supporters. “They did the right thing. I couldn’t be happier.”