``The airport is a place of extremes," said David Wells Roth , whose luminous oil paintings are the first sight for Terminal C arrivals and the last for departures. ``People are either rushing from one place to another or dealing with delays. There's often time to really look at a painting here." 

Roth, 49, who spent 15 years painting in France, chose Beacon Hill and Brighton scenes to give visitors a sense of the ease with which Boston blends old and new worlds.

Kenny Mac's greeting was less romantic. ``Rush Hour" previews with whimsy and bold color the vehicular hell of driving downtown.

``That one was inspired by the chaos of the Big Dig," said Mac, 46, who has been with USEA since its start in 1986.

``It's a challenge for any artist to be seen these days ," said Mac. ``It's great to be here."

``We call this area the walkway between Terminal B and C," said Massport's Mike Cataldo , who last year opened the airport to area arts groups. ``I know, it's not very creative. Perhaps we should call it the `Gallery at Logan.' "

 

RON FLETCHER

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