Osborn and Central

Thomas Sayre / Raleigh, NC

This station is across from what once was historic Park Central Mall. The area has grown and changed over the years and is emerging now as a truly urban mixed use space with offices, shops and residential units.

North Carolina Artist Thomas Sayre was originally steered toward creating a large artwork in the entranceway but, given the space constraints, decided to engage the rider along the entire station platform.

Conceptually, the artwork emphasizes that the audience and the subject for the project are the riders themselves. The theme is waiting and what people do while waiting for the next train. Tapping Time depicts, via cast bronze shoe prints, the activities of approximately 100 people for five seconds after a southbound train has stopped on the west side of the platform. Half of the people at the station
are positioned to board the southbound train while the rest wait the northbound train. A range of people are depicted with business shoes, cowboy boots, moccasins, sandals, military boots, construction boots, flip flops, and children’s shoes. Other markings indicate wheelchairs, cane-assisted walking, a stroller and street musicians.