PHILADELPHIA – Amtrak continues to elevate the passenger experience at William H. Gray III 30th Street Station with the unveiling of Flourish, the latest addition to its Art at Amtrak program. Building on the success of Euphonic & Chromatic Drift, a vinyl mural launched last year, this new site-specific installation promises to captivate visitors at one of Amtrak’s busiest hubs. Created by Philadelphia-based artist Roxana Azar in partnership with Brandywine Realty Trust, Flourish is prominently featured on the Cira Skybridge, the enclosed pedestrian walkway connecting the Cira Centre to the Amtrak station, and will extend into a public area within the station itself.
“The Art at Amtrak program is designed to bring moments of surprise and artistic engagement into public spaces, and Flourish perfectly embodies this vision,” stated Sharon Tepper, Director of the Art at Amtrak program. “By showcasing the talent of a local Philadelphia artist, we are transforming the Cira Skybridge into a more vibrant and stimulating environment for the thousands of daily travelers, residents, and employees who pass through 30th Street Station. We believe Roxana Azar’s dynamic work will inspire and enrich their journeys.”
This installation follows a series of popular free public performances by PHILADANCO! at Gray 30th Street Station earlier this year, further demonstrating Amtrak’s commitment to integrating art into the station environment.
[Placeholder image of 30th Street Station or Cira Skybridge – will replace with actual image if available and update alt text accordingly]
As the third busiest station in the Amtrak network, Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station is a major transportation artery, serving over 4 million Amtrak passengers and 12 million regional rail commuters annually. On a typical weekday, the station complex sees over 100,000 individuals. The Cira Centre and 30th Street Station together act as a gateway to Schuylkill Yards, a significant $3.5 billion development project by Brandywine Realty Trust in collaboration with Drexel University. This evolving neighborhood underscores the station’s importance as a central point in Philadelphia’s urban landscape.
Jeff DeVuono, Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Brandywine Realty Trust, commented, “Our long-standing partnership with Amtrak, dating back to the inception of Cira Centre, allows us to once again enhance the experience for building tenants and station visitors alike. Flourish captures the energy and forward momentum of Schuylkill Yards, one of the nation’s most exciting urban developments, and its location adjacent to the historic William H. Gray III 30th Street Station is a key element of its appeal.”
The Flourish art installation is set to debut in September. This exciting addition coincides with Amtrak’s ongoing large-scale restoration and modernization project at 30th Street Station, demonstrating a dual commitment to both infrastructural improvement and enriching the station’s atmosphere through art.
🎨 The Art of Flourish: A Greenhouse Concept for 30th Street Station
Roxana Azar’s Flourish draws inspiration from the greenhouse, a space designed to nurture and sustain plant life even when relocated to different environments. This concept resonates with the function of 30th Street Station as a transitional space for travelers from diverse locations and backgrounds. For this installation, Azar developed two digital compositions, layering photographs of plants sourced from greenhouses across the country. Through digital manipulation, bold color palettes, and simplified forms, Azar transformed these botanical images into playful and engaging artworks.
Azar’s choice of botanical themes for the Cira Skybridge, which itself resembles a glasshouse structure, is deliberate. The artwork aims to create a sense of vitality and a thriving environment, reflecting the constant movement and flow of people through the station from all corners of the nation. The interplay of light, transparency, and reflection within the glass skybridge further enhances the dynamic visual experience of Flourish, creating color-shifting shadows and multifaceted perspectives.
[Placeholder image of Roxana Azar’s artwork style – will replace with actual image of “Flourish” if available and update alt text accordingly]
The artist also considered the parallel between plant physiology and transportation networks. Just as plants transport water and nutrients from roots to leaves, transportation systems enable cities and communities to flourish and expand. Flourish subtly evokes this connection, highlighting the station as a vital artery for growth and connection.
🖌️ About the Artist: Roxana Azar
Roxana Azar is a celebrated Philadelphia-based artist known for their innovative work in light art, digital compositions, and dichroic plexiglass sculptures. Azar’s diverse practice encompasses photography, digital collage and manipulation, and sculpture. Their portfolio includes holographic vases, mobiles, functional furniture, and floral-inspired pieces, often incorporating imagery of collaged greenhouses and gardens, reflecting their ongoing exploration of botanical themes and light. More information about the artist and their work can be found on Roxana Azar’s website.
