The Edmonton International Airport has acquired $1 million in art work for its Expansion 2012 project but not everyone has been happy to foot the bill.
Artists were chosen from 200 worldwide submissions to design and build orginal art for the new terminal.
There are five permanent pieces and five rotational displays as well as an Arts District Corridor where the five of Edmonton's arts organizations show off artifacts.
"It makes people happy," Contributing artist Erin Pankratz-Smith said.
"It makes people smile. They're going through security and customs, which is stressful, so this is something that can brighten their day," she added.
Fellow artist Jason Carter agreed.
"If you can make any part of the travel experience brighter and if I can be included in that then I'm totally honoured," he told CTV News.
The cost of acquiring the art work was paid for by the airport improvement fee that passengers have been required to pay.
Many passengers said they think it was money well spent.
"It's worth it," Brian Webb said.
"It's good for the mind. It's playful."
"It's the first thing people see," Bev Martin said.
"It's the last thing people see. It should be a nice play to come and go," Martin added.
However, not everyone was happy to hear where their $25 was being invested.
"I don't think it's necessary at all," Leroy Fontaine said.
"You can go to a museum or an art gallery if you want to see art."
Airport officials said the art will last for decades and bring joy to the over six million passengers using the facility each year.
The new U.S. Departures area will be open to the public in about two weeks.
With files from Sean Amato
