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ChineseThe Sound
The first time I heard it, I thought there was an injured animal stuck under the tracks. I walked up and down, but didn’t see anything. But the sound, that sound, THE SOUND.. it haunted me. But when I returned weeks later, the sound remained. How could this injured animal still be under there? It has been months since my first visit and the sound remains. And I don’t think its an injured animal anymore
I’m talking, of course, about the Civic Center redline stop. The station’s art features some very cool and very creepy levitating/ falling human bodies. Overall, I’d say it’s one of the quieter stations, but there is this crazy echoeing chirp you can hear while waiting. You can hear it ever 30 seconds or so.. sometimes it sounds like birds chirping.. but sometimes it sounds almost mechanical.. robotic.. evil. It always creeps me out.
What is up with the mystery sound of the Civic Center stop? Is it a ghost? An art instalation? A job for Scooby Do and the gang?
Discussion
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I’ve used Civic Center station regularly for about 5 years and the sound has always been there. I, too, have always wondered about it.
At first I thought it was a bird that had somehow gotten trapped in the station, but I’ve grown to realize that it’s a permanent fixture. I have a feeling it must be part of the art installation in that station, which is quite odd already without the sound. maybe it’s the sound of those children crying as they fall forever.
much like a creepy childrens’ poem, that sound and those people falling go hand in hand. luckily i dont have to frequent that stop for i fear i’d have night terrors… yeah thats right, terrors. and i swear, if they ever install “rock a bye baby” with some high pitched metal on glass on metal sounds i’m done riding all together.
According to the Metro publication Guide to Public Art on the Red Line and Gateway Transit Center this art installation is called I Dreamed I Could Fly and was done by Jonathan Borofsky.
Figures representing the artist soar high above the station platform casting shadows on the ceiling; listen for the trill of a bird.
I only got on and off at that station once and it was before I knew there was any sound associated with the installation. I’ll have to go back and listen — just for the heck of it. Maybe I should take one of the tours that they offer on Saturdays and Sundays that explain the different art at the stations.
speaking of art… there’s an article in the downtown news about the MTA art installment program.
So it’s part of the art installation?! I had no idea…
Looks like it’s time for us to take one of the free Metro Art Tours that Vicky metioned. Who knows what other secrets the installations hold… expect a full report.