Have you ever found yourself at the Rosslyn Metro station, losing a fight with the farecard machine, only to look up and see a sprawling array of twisted objects mixed with unnaturally bright colors and asked yourself, “What the hell is that?”

If you have, then welcome to the world of one of D.C.’s most prominent beautification initiatives.

Metro’s Art In Transit, or as it is more commonly known, MetroArts, works with artists (both local and international), community groups, governmental agencies and businesses from all across the area to install artwork throughout the Metrorail system. The 88-foot long, four-foot wide painted mural that you see (or don’t see) at Rosslyn is only one example of these unique pieces. To date, 17 locations feature artwork and 11 have projects currently in development.

For the chance to learn about the history of the art with an expert, tours are offered a few times a year by MetroArts coordinator Michael McBride.

The initiative begin in 1995 as “a way to add beauty and value to the Metro stations and to support the cultural interests of the communities” that they serve. In this spirit, if you stare hard enough at the mural in Rosslyn, called “Rosslyn Scene,” painted by Virginian artist David Chung, you will start to recognize some of the area’s well-known landscapes such as the Key Bridge and the skyline of Rosslyn’s business district.

In fact, many of the featured pieces of art are described as gateways into their respective communities. The most prominient of these can be found at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station. Constructed out of sealed wood, frosted plexiglass and neon, this wall sculpture was done by Virginia artist Foon Sham in homage to early Chinese descendants who settled in the nation’s capital. Resembling a giant fan made out chopsticks, rice paper and lanterns, the piece, named “The Glory of the Chinese Descendants,” is definitely one of the more striking and notable components of the MetroArts program.

Other sculptures include the “Largo Beacon” by artist Ray King, a giant sphere that stands at an impressive 35 feet composed mainly of steel and laminated holographic glass; “The Commuter” by Maryland artist Marcia F. Billig, a seven-foot tall bronze figurine depicting an amusing, very Washingtonian man rushing to work with a briefcase in one hand, a newspaper in the other, and, in a surprise twist, on roller skates; and finally, my personal favorite, “Pod Trees for Naylor Road” by [D.C. artist Robert Cole,] a 15-foot tall stainless steel tree that surreally combines elements of nature and technology.

MetroArts is also fairly consistent in its continuation of the murals-above-the-fare-card-machines trend, but one unique mural is situated elsewhere. In the underpass under the Silver Spring station, the 100-foot piece titled “Penguin Rush Hour,” by Sally Callmer is a whimsically wonderful portrayal of penguins as Metro commuters.

There are more unique features of MetroArts that may have stuck with you a little more: first, found at L’Enfant Plaza are “Ready” and “Howdy”, two photographs by William Wegman of Weimaraners in faux NASA space suits; then, “The Yellow Line,” a fairly arbitrary rectangle of neon goodness situated on the wall in between rails at the Gallery Place- Chinatown station [by Virginia artist Constance Fleures]; and finally, not to be outdone the New Carrollton Station “Dawn and Dusk” which should be seen in person to understand the full amount of randomness that it portrays .

With all my mockery, however, there are plenty of highlights including but not limited to, the beautiful stained glass light fixtures at the Metro Center station, called “Ribbons and Jewels” by D.C. artist Hazel Rehold; at the Anacostia station, “River Spirits of the Anacostia” by Martha Jackson-Jarvis, an elaborate mural depicting life on the Anacostia; and most notably, “Woven Identities,” by Megan Walsh which uses colorful block portraits that capture the diversity of the D.C. metropolitan area.
So the next time you venture off the Hilltop, take a moment to admire the art that’s all around you. If nothing else, it will make your journey a little bit brighter.

For more information on the tour and the locations of all the artwork, you can visit the Metro Arts Web site at http://www.wmata.com/about/intro/index.html or the Washington Metropolitan Area Transport Authority’s home page at http://www.wmata.com.