As a baggage porter at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Darren Hoggard spent slow days over 30 years gazing at the scenes on the walls of the American Airlines terminal.
Unexpectedly he learned the paintings would be no more, slated for demolition in 2007 along with the rest of the terminal. (Above: the JFK mural, Rejoicing and Festival of the Americas, by Carybé)
The news hit Hoggard so hard, it showed on his face, and a passerby stopped to ask what was wrong. Coincidentally, the passerby, Beatrice Esteve, was familiar with the murals’ artist, who hailed from her native Brazil. She vowed to do whatever she could to help Hoggard.
(Continue reading the AP story at MSNBC)
How awesome! Bravo to Darren Hoggard, Beatrice Esteve, Gilberto Sa, Gilberto Neves and Brazilian construction company Odebrecht for investing in and saving this treasure!