Terminal 5
curated by Rachel K. Ward, 2004
John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

with Vanessa Beecroft, Douglas Coupland, Kendell Geers, Dan Graham, Toland Grinnell, Fabrice Gygi, Jenny Holzer, Ryoji Ikeda, Just Another Rich Kid, Matthieu Laurette, Sean Linezo, Jennifer & Kevin McCoy, Jonas Mekas, Jonathan Monk, Daniel Ruggiero, Tom Sachs, Anri Sala and Tobias Wong, images

CLOSING STATEMENT:
Considerable time from volunteers and artists, as well as financial support from sponsors, was dedicated to the opening of Eero Saarinen’s landmark terminal with an art exhibition. It is to the great distress of all involved that Terminal 5, open for events on September 29, 2004 and October 1, 2004, will not re-open for the public.

For support of the re-opening since October, thanks to Tom Eccles of the Public Art Fund, Tom Healy of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Anne Pasternak of Creative Time and the countless individuals who provided letters of advocacy on behalf of the project. Thank you to all involved for attempting to reconcile any issues and allow the public access to the landmark and exhibition.

For the record, please note the following information:
-“Terminal 5” was a volunteer project begun by Rachel K. Ward in 2003. The intention of the project was to open a formerly closed landmark and to present contemporary art to the public.
-The effort was supported in 2004 by contributing artists, designers and colleagues in areas of sponsorship, public/media relations, installation, and education - most working as volunteers and sharing responsibility for the success of the project.
-The effort was also shared by a great number of fiscal sponsors and corporate partners, including shipping, printing, catering, accommodations, cleaning and security.
-The landmark terminal, closed since 2001, remained vacant and unused and required cleaning and rehabilitation to host the exhibition. Two months were spent preparing the terminal for the public.
-The exhibition opened October 1, 2004. The number of guests at the opening event exceeded expectations, and security failed to prevent guests from entering restricted areas. Out of respect for airport safety, the Port Authority guidelines and the landmark terminal, the curator closed the event and asked guests to vacate the building.
-Per agreement with the Port Authority, a cleaning crew was scheduled to arrive the following morning, along with catering to retrieve glassware. Unfortunately, the Port Authority arrived prior to the cleaning crew. The terminal was however cleaned on schedule and returned to its original state as scheduled. A member from Homeland Security visited the terminal and approved the condition of the building.
-On October 5, 2004 at 12:00 PM [noon] the exhibition opened as planned and was immediately issued a statement effective 12:01 PM that day indicating that the terminal would no longer be open to the public due to violations of security on the night of October 1. The exhibition was officially open for 1 minute. The curator was asked by a member of the Port Authority to issue a public statement absolving the security company on any counts and stating that they provided “exceptional” service. This statement was not provided.
-Since October, the curator has consistently negotiated with both the Port Authority and alternate security companies, in an effort to re-open the project. No solution could be reached prior to the intended closing date of the exhibition on January 31, 2005.
-To respond to inquiries, there is no alternate location, extension of the exhibition or any post-exhibition, related project planned

Please note the following corrections to the New York Times:
“Port Authority Shuts Art Exhibit in Aftermath of Rowdy Party”
By Carol Vogel

- At the time of the exhibition closure, the curator opted for ‘no comment’ in respect of all parties involved, including artists and sponsors, as well as an attempt to cooperate with the Port Authority.
-Several facts not confirmed by Ms. Vogel or simply inaccurate include age of curator (29), the sale of alcohol (complimentary sponsored liquor was provided for this event), and the date of private reception (Sep. 29).
-The representatives from both the Port Authority and Jet Blue cited by Ms. Vogel never attended the exhibition or spoke with the curator. Contrary to the article, the Port Authority, not Jet Blue, was in a position to respond to occupancy of the terminal and management of the event.
-Per contract, both the Port Authority and Jet Blue were provided with advance images of each artist in the exhibition, including the work of Vanessa Beecroft. These were the only sponsors to request a review of content of the art work. Jet Blue representatives expressed advance concern over Ms. Beecroft’s work. For this reason, it was requested that Ms. Beecroft “not show nudity,” which the curator conveyed to the artist. Representatives from Jet Blue Airways were invited to have an advance preview of the exhibition. However, the curator was told that no one from Jet Blue would be able to see the exhibition inside the terminal until the private reception. Upon evaluation at the private reception, the Port Authority approved every work in the exhibition with only a request for a safety barrier in front of the skate ramp by Tom Sachs. Jet Blue however, refused the work of Vanessa Beecroft and a portion of the work by Toland Grinnell, both on basis of content. The curator was instructed to remove these works from the exhibition and complied.