Red Rabbit earns funds for Sacramento Airport as art project contributions rise

"Leap" was created by Denver-based artist Lawrence Argent, who also designed the well-known "Big Blue Bear" in Denver. The rabbit was initially designed in fiberglass but was altered to aluminum for safety compliance, with its total weight exceeding 10,000 pounds.

Argent's goal was to create a piece that merged seamlessly with the building's architecture, leading him to say in 2011, “I wanted to play around with the idea that something has come from the outside and leapt into the building.”

The sculpture's cost was part of a $1.03 billion terminal modernization project completed in 2008. This same project paved the way for further enhancements at the airport, known as the "SMForward" initiative, which commenced in 2023 and aims to install new art worth $2.5 million by the end of 2025.

Alongside "Leap," another notable art installation at Sacramento Airport is "Samson." Created by sculptor Brian Goggin in 1998, it features two pillars constructed from over 700 refurbished pieces of luggage located in Terminal A.

Marc Lancet again remarks on the appeal of these art pieces, stating, “People say, ‘Meet me by the suitcases’,” referring to the luggage feature.

Sacramento Airport holds over two dozen additional public art installations. Among these are "Flying Carpet" by Seyed Alavi, "Chromatic Oasis" by Christopher Janney, and "Untitled" by Ned Kahn, each offering unique artistic experiences for travelers passing through.

Travelers are invited to contribute to the ongoing support of these exhibits by tossing coins into the Red Rabbit's portal, further enhancing the airport's aesthetic and cultural environment.