Arlington, Virginia

Wonder Wander defines the new central park in the National Gateway at Potomac Yard, a mixed-use development across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Kirkland, working with LSG Landscape Architecture, dramatically altered the original park design as the concept for the artwork evolved.

Two monumental blocks of carved black granite are deeply engraved with the image of a young woman’s eyes upturned to the sky. Water, in varying amounts of flow, animates the surface of the stone, revealing or obscuring the image. The almond shape of the eyes is repeated throughout the park, such as on the benches that mark the entries, which are topped with granite engraved with images from nature.Mingling pathways throughout create specialty planting and paving areas.

Photography by Craig Collins.

Materials & Dimensions

Water feature: black granite, 12' x 23' x 4.5'. Seven benches: imperial red granite, 20' x 1.5'.