Florence Station
A Florence Moment, 2004
Ricardo Duffy, artist
Ricardo Duffy, after visiting the neighborhood along Florence Avenue, was inspired by the dynamic foot traffic along the storefront-filled street. Lively and colorful, the immediate community is primarily a mix of new immigrants from Mexico and Central America along with long-standing African American and Anglo residents.
The Metro Florence Station is a narrow center platform rail station that sits in the center of this bustling community. There are four large-scale steel sign posts on the platform that house seating for the rail patrons. Attached on the top posts of these structures are eight whimsical and colorful ceramic artworks. The imagery includes signage, storefronts, icons, and people along Florence Avenue.
“These images represent upbeat or whimsical snapshots of life in this area. Included are some of the more colorful and humorous storefront iconography…the brightly colored glazed artwork embodies the area’s present day lively atmosphere.”