Beautifying the Larchmont Train
Station:
Art in Transit
by Judy Silberstein
( August 28, 2002) The Four Seasons will be part of
the renovated Larchmont Train Station. No, not Vivaldi
but a ceramic mural by Red Hook artist Joy Taylor.
The mural comes to Larchmont via Metro-North's Arts
in Transit program. In keeping with New York State and
Metro-North’s policy, a portion of any capital
budget is reserved for the arts. Arts in Transit is
in charge of selecting and implementing particular art
works for individual stations. For Larchmont, they are
working with Joy Taylor to develop a final proposal
for the mural to appear in the new waiting room.
Previous art projects for train stations have ranged
from the whimsical rowboat at the Crestwood station
(below) to the elegant chandeliers at Grand Central
terminal. (See Arts
in Transit's website for further examples and photographs.)
| Crestwood Station Artwork: Photo Courtesy of Arts in Transit |
Before settling on the Taylor design, the Arts in Transit
program sought input from local officials and residents.
Said Patricia Raley, Assistant Director of Corporate
Media Relations at Metro-North, “As a voting member,
it’s impossible not to be influenced by the people
who are going to be living with the art.” Nili
Asherie, Chairperson of the Village of Larchmont Committee
on the Arts, sat in on the deliberations along with
other local officials. She said, “I’m personally
thrilled that Joy Taylor won.”
The Four Seasons design will include leaves and other
natural elements found in the area. Taylor displayed
some of her earlier art works for the selection group
to give a sense of her plans for the mural. In Ginko
Quilt and Sassafras Banner, Taylor incorporates actual
leaves.
 |  |
Details from Joy Taylor's Ginko Quilt and Sassafras
Banner |
Asherie explained, “Sometimes when you watch
a picture, it takes you to another place. A lot of us
got that feeling with Taylor's work. It’s very
moving, very appropriate. It will make people stop and
think and hopefully make their day better.”
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