“Over three hundred mosaic eyes watch you.” This art installation is part of Oculus. It is in the interconnected subway stations of Lower Manhattan. Specifically, it’s at the World Trade Center/Park Place/Chamber Street Stations.
Hello everyone. Welcome to the Chambers Street–World Trade Center–Park Place–Cortlandt Street station complex. This station is more than just a transportation hub. It’s a living museum of art and history. Today, we will delve into its secrets and stories. We will explore the art that makes this station unique.
Our journey begins with a look at the past. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company built the Van Cortlandt station. It opened in 1918. This was part of the “dual contracts” between IRT and BRT. The project aimed to expand rapid transit lines across New York City.
In the 1960s, Minoru Yamasaki designed the Twin Towers. Emery Roth & Sons worked on the Marriott and other WTC buildings. This urban renewal project transformed Lower Manhattan. The portion of Cortlandt Street above the station was demolished. This made way for the World Trade Center.
Tragedy struck on September 11, 2001. The Twin Towers collapsed. They fell directly atop the Cortlandt Street subway stop. The station was buried under debris. Its sturdy beams were “bent like paper clips”. The station sat unused. It was missing from the New York City subway map.
The Cortlandt Street/World Trade Center station was rebuilt. It cost $181.8 million. It mixes the old with the new. It is located under Greenwich Street. The station features Anne Hamilton’s Chorus. This 4,350-square-foot mural weaves words. The words come from the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They also come from the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Hamilton, an art professor, created Chorus in monochromatic marble. It forms a white-on-white tactile surface. This frames the subway platforms. Riders are invited to touch the text. They should create meaningful encounters. These encounters acknowledge civic ideals. They also acknowledge aspirations.
Not far from here, Rector Street station also has Squire Vickers tile placement. Decades of debris cover the tracks. It also covers the floors. Unfortunately, the formerly vivid tile reproduction of King’s College is gone. King’s College is otherwise known as Columbia University. It lived downtown in the late 19th century.
Finally, let’s look at Oculus. Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel created this artwork. Oculus features 300 mosaic eyes. These eyes were drawn from a photographic study. The study included over 1,200 young New Yorkers. The work’s centerpiece is a large elliptical mosaic floor. It features the continents of the earth. New York City is interwoven within the continents. A large eye sits in the middle. The mosaic is a vision of the world. It is a reflecting pool of water. It represents New York City in its proper geographical orientation.
The artists stated that Oculus was created to personalize and integrate the stations. Eyes are both subtle and strong. They engage passing individuals. They allow for meditation. They invite dialogue.
As you leave Chambers Street–World Trade Center–Park Place–Cortlandt Street station, remember its story. It is a story of art. It is a story of history. It is a story of resilience. The station stands as a testament to New York City’s spirit. Thank you for joining me on this tour.