Image Correspondence #24

This past weekend I flew into PDX for the first time in fifteen years. I didn’t recall the carpet from that first trip, but after listening to episode #152, I was ready to pay close attention.  I can’t say I feel particularly sentimental towards the famous PDX carpet pattern, although it does remind me of an awkward phase in 5th grade when I wore, almost exclusively, a pair of teal and purple sweat pants.

[Photo credit: Kate Joyce Blues across the PDX carpet, Portland, OR 2015 ]

I spent a while milling around the ticketing lobby, making photographs of some of the more heavily trafficked areas. It’s rare that you can loiter in an airport taking pictures with a big camera without being approached by security. I suspect I got a pass because my camera was pointed down at the famous carpet that was soon to be completely replaced. If this carpet has the ability to bring out the TSA’s soft spot for humanity, then I’m sad to see it go too.

[Photo credit: Kate Joyce Escape across the PDX carpet, Portland, OR 2015 ]

Kate Joyce is a Chicago based artist, architectural photographer, and the first image correspondent for 99% Invisible. Every two weeks, Joyce will release new and original work for specific episodes. She’ll also comb through her archive to find previously made photographs that are already in thematic conversation with current and past episodes. “I’m curious to see how audio will shape image and image will shape audio and what that will mean to telling stories about design over time,” Joyce says.

Now You See It  is a photography project of 99% Invisible. We’d like to create a public dialogue by offering our listeners a new way to interact with our show, as well as their own immediate environment. The project includes the Image Correspondent Residency with Kate Joyce, and ongoing photo assignments for listeners.

We want to see what you hear! Submit your images to our Flickr Group, or email them to [email protected] or put them on Instagram with the hashtag #99PI. We’ll be curating and presenting our favorites on our Instagram and Tumblr.