NoMa-Gallaudet U
Station entrance plaza and integrated into the fence in the front of the station.
Journeys, 2004
Barbara Grygutis and Dolores Kendrick
Aluminum, light, steel
27.5' h x 6' w
Journeys is an environmental sculpture inspired by life's journeys. The sculpture is a collaboration with Dolores Kendrick, Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia. The art installation uses a sculpture and four sculptural leaf patterns from the Scarlet Oak tree (the official tree of the District of Columbia) and poetry to remind viewers of their journeys through the seasons of life. One of the poems is integrated into the large leaf sculpture. The other poem is on the wall in the station pavilion.
Using laser-jet cut aluminum and welded steel, Journeys consists of a 27 feet-tall sculpture at the station entrance, a 400 feet-long wavy fence along the front of the station, and a poem engraved into a panel in the station pavilion. The artwork is part of the overall station design, making it WMATA's first integrated artwork installation.
The integration of words into the artwork and on the panel contributes to the multi-layered, public space. The leaf is illuminated from within at night, providing a beacon of light at the entrance to the station.
Through her work as an artist, Barbara Grygutis creates public spaces that enhance the built environment, enable civic interaction, and reveal unspoken relationships between nature and humanity. She engages the public through her works of art by identifying themes meaningful to each specific site and community.
Poet Dolores Kendrick was born and raised in Washington DC. In 1999, she was appointed Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia. The National Visionary Leadership Project has honored her contributions to art and public life, and in 2002 a celebration of Kendrick's work was staged at the Kennedy Center. Kendrick worked for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, developing programs for high school and college students, and for established and emerging poets. In addition to appearing on the Journeys sculpture in the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro Station, her poetry also appears as part of the Epoch sculpture by Albert Paley in downtown Washington. Ms. Kendrick passed away in 2017.