washington & central light rail station • installed june 2008 • downtown phoenix, arizona
artist: stephen farley
Valley Metro Rail chose artist Stephen Farley in 2003 to use terrazzo, baked porcelain enamel, and Tilography to create artwork celebrating Downtown Phoenix's history and vibrancy at the two main Downtown light rail stations.
Terrazzo flooring on the station platform incorporate architectural details from the adjacent historic Maricopa County Courthouse, and honor first U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whose first courtroom was in the building, and John P. Frank, the attorney who argued the Miranda Rights case before the Supreme Court -- Miranda was originally jailed in the building.
The baked porcelain panels at the Courthouse station tell the story of the struggles for civil rights in Downtown Phoenix, featuring historical photos of the segregated high school and bus station, as well as leaders who broke racial and ethnic barriers in their fields.
The panels at the Renaissance station are historical photos of two topics: People doing various activities downtown from new year's runs to the old Fox Theatre ushers to community meetings; and a visual history of public transportation in downtown Phoenix.
Tilography panels are also part of the artwork at these stations; you can view them here.
