Peanuts In My Pocket

This morning, I found myself at LAX, waiting to pick up family members returning from vacation. One of my unofficial retirement roles is serving as the family’s free Uber driver, a job I enjoy because it gets me out of the house. Unfortunately, I mistimed today’s trip, which left me with some time to kill. I decided to explore Terminal 3 to see if there was any public art on display, something I love doing whenever I have the chance.

I soon discovered an exhibit called 365 Days of Voters by Deborah Aschheim. It’s a series of pen-and-ink portraits of current and future voters, originally created in 2019–2020 and shared on Instagram during the 2020 election year. I walked the entire exhibit, starting with a portrait of musician Flea, which was an unexpected surprise. I took my time, studying each face and reading each story. The experience was fascinating and beautiful.

365 Days of Voters was conceived during Aschheim’s 2019–2020 residency as a Creative Strategist with the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. She sketched people from all walks of life, at the zoo, Pride events, colleges, resource fairs, naturalization ceremonies, polling stations, and more, capturing both their likenesses and their motivations to vote. The installation feels like a cross section of Los Angeles itself, and I think it’s a perfect way to welcome visitors.

Visit Deborah Aschheim’s website for more of her work.

Public art, especially when supported by public funding, is an essential part of who we are as a nation. I struggle to understand the perspective of those who fear art or seek to defund the institutions that sustain it.

Terminal 3 itself feels sparse. The first thing I noticed was the lack of seating. The arrivals level had virtually none, apart from a long window ledge, and the departures level had even less. It feels as though LAX discourages the tedious joy of waiting for loved ones. I couldn’t even find a coffee machine. I walked through all the public areas of the terminal; it’s not a place you’d linger in for pleasure, though at least it’s clean.

On Level 3, near Delta’s security boarding gates, I came across another striking art installation: a massive oval painting titled Just What is Your Position by Renee Petropoulos. It’s a kaleidoscopic vision of color and movement. I stood there for nearly 10 minutes, long enough that I half expected security to start watching me.

Petropoulos is a thoughtful, versatile Los Angeles–based artist whose work blends vivid color with layered meaning. I’ve seen another of her pieces at the Los Angeles Central Library, Seven Centers, and it’s worth a visit on its own.

There are a few other notable works inside the secure areas of the terminal, but I’ll have to wait to see them. I don’t fly Delta often, and when I do, I’m usually in too much of a rush to stop and enjoy the art. That’s something I need to change.