Kate Newby installs 1,600 ceramic tiles at Portland airport

The Sound of Trees, the inaugural permanent public artwork by Kate Newby, is currently displayed in the Arrivals Terminal of Portland International Airport (PDX). This piece features over 1,600 handcrafted ceramic tiles that extend 75 feet. Viewed from afar, it resembles an abstract array of colors and textures; however, a closer inspection reveals topographic details of pine needles, leaves, and melted glass integrated into the clay. Newby spent several years creating this work, gathering natural and found materials with students, artists, and community members in Oregon. These elements were then utilized in the tile-making process, which took place in her Texas studio, showcasing impressions of both the Oregon landscape and her physical interaction with the clay.