Celebrated Artist Selected for Fresno Yosemite International Airport Parking Garage Public Art

Fresno, CA (October 18, 2022)– Fresno Yosemite International Airport is pleased to announce a mixed media mosaic mural design titled “You Have Arrived” by Fresno artist and educator, Caleb Duarte, has been selected for a public art piece to enhance the airport parking garage. A statewide Call to Artists led by the Fresno Arts Council through the California Arts Council received submissions from seventeen talented California artists. An arts community panel evaluated each submission based on the Call to Artists specifications including artistic vision, budget and representation of the cultural diversity and spirit of California’s Central Valley.  Another requirement was that the artistic piece convey that “you have arrived in Fresno.”

“It is a great honor to be selected for the creation of Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s public mural that will represent the cultural vibrancy and resilience of our community,” said Caleb Duarte. “I believe that public art serves us by establishing a collective memory while creating new sites of shared experiences.”

Caleb’s design illustrates an embrace of a painted ceramic figure representing a growing abstract tree with well-grounded roots, reflecting the region’s surrounding mountains and forest. Decorative floating patterns symbolize flight and aerial views mirroring the airport’s existing sky and ground mosaic by Raymond Rice. The mural integrates mosaic tiles with river rocks and painted ceramic for the flowing hair, face, and hands of the central figure. Caleb’s design creates a thoughtful expression of Fresno’s unique cultural renaissance and a dramatic welcome for visitors arriving in our city.

“Caleb Duarte’s experience, vision and artistic interpretations that combined Fresno’s culture and history, play to the architectural elements of the garage, and compliments the existing mosaic on the face of the terminal building made him the best choice to create our signature public art piece,” said Director of Aviation Henry Thompson. “We appreciated partnering with the Fresno Arts Council who lent their expertise to assist us with procuring a unique public art piece. We are confident Caleb will create a beautiful and iconic mural that celebrates our community and welcomes visitors.”

Caleb is an internationally acclaimed artist with numerous group and solo exhibitions spanning throughout California and globally including Mumbai, India; Chiapas, Mexico; Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; Montréal, Canada; Frankfurt, Germany; Pienza, Italy, and many other countries from around the world. His passion for art is shared through mentoring in high schools, colleges and as a tenured Professor of Sculpture at Fresno City College. He has collaborated on numerous public art projects locally and around the globe.

There will be an unveiling of Caleb’s final design at a later date.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport – Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is one of the Central San Joaquin Valley’s largest drivers of economic activity, with $928 million in pre-pandemic annual economic activity and 10,800 direct, induced, and indirect jobs. Domestic and international carriers serving FAT offer Valley travelers daily nonstop flights to Chicago (Seasonal), Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Guadalajara, León, and Morelia in Mexico.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Fresno Chandler Executive Airport are municipally owned entities operating as a self-supporting enterprise.               

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