Letter
Dear Mr. Wiedefeld:
In its public meeting of 21 January conducted by videoconference, the Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a proposal for public artworks to be installed at the new headquarters building of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, located at 300 7th Street, SW. The Commission approved the designs with the following comments.
The Commission members strongly commended the two sculptures, Hooray and Pebble, for their bold designs and their interactive character. Noting that the inspiration for these sculptures is derived from the geometries of the L’Enfant Plan, they commented that the resulting designs also will be striking and beautiful in their own right. For Hooray, they recommended considering increasing its height; they also advised eliminating the small plantings proposed at the base of the sculpture, commenting that the work will be successful without these embellishments. For Pebble, they observed that because a tree will be integral to the piece, the selection of the species is crucial; they recommended using a flowering tree, such as a pink-blossomed cherry as illustrated in the submission, that would provide a striking accent to the yellow sculpture.
The Commission emphasized its support for these imaginative designs. As always, the staff is available to assist you in their development.
Sincerely,
/s/Thomas E. Luebke, FAIA
Secretary
Paul J. Wiedefeld, General Manager and CEO
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
cc: Nancy Hou and Josh de Sousa, Hou de Sousa
Ashton Allan, Studios Architecture