Herndon Station, Herndon, VA, 2020

At a Silver Line Metrorail station in Herndon, VA, a set of sixty-six 1’ x 2’ etched black granite tiles punctuate the ground plane of two pedestrian bridges. One stop away from Dulles International Airport, the station serves residents, commuters and travelers. Each granite tile is etched with a historic or contemporary image of or inspired by the town of Herndon. Overlaid onto the image is a word that references an activity or value related to coming home, going to work, or traveling. The image-word combinations sometimes imply double meanings. The granite pieces are incorporated into architectural paving bands, arranged in groupings and sequences to suggest poetic combinations in the minds of people walking over them. LED spotlights in the ceiling illuminate the pavers, turning on and off to draw attention to different image-word tiles and combinations.

Now & Then was commissioned by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The tiles were fabricated by stone sculptor Sebastian Martorana and installed by Hilgartner Natural Stone Company.