The next time you fly out of Iron Mountain, look up. The walls of Ford Airport aren’t bare anymore — they’re filled with the Upper Peninsula itself.
An Airport That Doubles As A Gallery
Most airports give you fluorescent lights and a vending machine. Ford Airport (IMT) in Iron Mountain decided to give travelers something better: art.
This winter, the airport launched a program called “ART at IMT,” run by its newly formed Ford Airport Art Committee.
The idea is simple and lovely. Every three months, a new local or regional artist takes over the terminal walls — so the thousands of people passing through each month get a little piece of the U.P. on their way out the door.
The First Artist Is A Yooper Through And Through
The honor of being first went to Sara Westcott, who paints under the name “Frozen North Art.”
She was born right there in Iron Mountain and now lives in Vulcan. And her subject matter? The Upper Peninsula she loves.
According to MyUPNow, her featured pieces include some of the most beloved spots in the region.
“Most are like my favorite places around the U.P.,” Westcott said. “One piece is Kitch-iti-kipi, and another one is the ore dock. And so far, because those pieces take a long time, I’ve gotten just a handful. There are more places that I do truly love that just need to get done yet.”
A Reminder For Anyone Afraid To Take The Leap
Here’s the part of Westcott’s story worth holding onto.
Just a couple of years ago, she’d never put her art out into the world. Then she made herself a New Year’s resolution: try something new once a month.
So she applied to a juried art show — terrified the whole time.
“I was scared that I wasn’t going to be chosen or anything. It was a waste of time,” she said. “But to my surprise, I was accepted. And that was the biggest high I’ve ever had.”
A few short years later, her work is the first thing travelers see at her hometown airport.
The U.P.’s Talent Is Just Getting Started
The airport has already lined up its second artist: Todd Witzman, a photographer who roams the U.P.’s trails, coastlines, and small towns capturing its rugged beauty. His work goes up in the next rotation.
Ford Airport Relations Officer Erica Sibley said the airport has loved showing Westcott’s work since March — and the program is open to anyone who wants in.
Artists interested in a three-month showcase or even a permanent installation can reach out to the airport by email, Facebook, or through fordairport.org.
It’s a small thing, really. But it’s also exactly the kind of thing that makes the U.P. the U.P. — a community that finds a way to celebrate its own.
What U.P. spot would YOU want to see turned into art on those airport walls? 👇
The featured image on this article is an AI-generated illustration. All facts are independently researched and sourced.
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