An expansive floating cloud of metal forms now sparks intrigue and reflection at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Internationally renowned artist Kipp Kobayashi’s “The Dreams We Carry” rises within the two-story Concourse G Rotunda in Terminal 1 — near gates G18-22 — offering views from below or through the windows of MSP’s newest Delta Sky Club lounge. The 45-foot-wide collection of hanging sculptures reflects ever-changing light and hints at the unique stories represented by the suspended objects — from everyday companions like favorite pets, cameras and blue jeans to treasured pieces such as rocking chairs, pianos, guitars, houseplants and a beloved teddy bear.
“‘The Dreams We Carry’ transforms the rotunda into a place of imagination and reflection, where travelers and visitors can pause and consider the many personal stories that converge at MSP,” said Ben Owen, director of Arts@MSP, a program of the Airport Foundation MSP. “This installation celebrates the creativity, diversity and shared experiences that make our airport — and our state — uniquely special.”
Kobayashi created more than 300 suspended objects, each hand-sculpted from stainless steel wire mesh and filled with items Minnesotans and travelers told the artist they most cherished — what they would bring on an imaginary one-way trip to a destination of their choice.
“The Dreams We Carry” features an iconic, well-loved teddy bear. Arts@MSP invites the community to give it a name.
“Kobayashi’s masterful artwork is the capstone element in the recently expanded end of Concourse G that features the dynamic rotunda space, more gate seating and concessions, as well as the new Sky Club,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which owns and operates MSP. “It will certainly welcome and inspire those who are traveling through the space.”
Kobayashi was commissioned to design and install “The Dreams We Carry” in the fall of 2022 through the Arts@MSP program, a partnership between the Airport Foundation MSP and the MAC. He is a Los Angeles-based artist, teacher and arts advocate with numerous public and private art commissions that demonstrate his talent for working collaboratively across disciplines, often bridging art, architecture and engineering.
Check out the video that captures the inspiration, creation and installation of “The Dreams We Carry.”
The engagement process behind “The Dreams We Carry” was just as expansive as the artwork itself. Kobayashi interacted with dozens of groups and hundreds of Twin Cities residents and MSP travelers whose stories informed the concept and revealed the treasures that bring people together and define a community.
“As the installation began to fill in, passersby would gather, pointing out the different shapes and objects, asking one another what they saw,” said Kobayashi. “I hope this activity allows each individual to make their own personal connection to these narratives — allowing them to think, reflect and dream up dreams of their own.”
The sculpture joins a growing collection of 80 permanent works at MSP curated by the Arts@MSP program. The project is funded by the MSP Percent for Arts and Culture Program — a dedicated source of arts funding derived from public-facing capital improvement projects.
“The artwork adds another unique experiential landmark in the terminal and provides visitors a new lasting impression and cultural link to our state,” said Rick King, chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. “It’s these types of installations, through our partnership with Airport Foundation and its Arts@MSP program, which continue to strengthen our award-winning facilities and amplify our best-in-class passenger experiences.”
In September, MSP was once again named the best mega airport for customer and traveler satisfaction in the annual J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study. MSP has now earned the highest ranking in customer satisfaction for mega airports in three out of the past four years.
