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A Day in Parkchester

Parkchester (6)

A Day in Parkchester

William Low
Artwork in faceted glass by William Low showing large colorful day and night city scenes over the stairwells.
“A Day in Parkchester” (2011) by William Low at Parkchester. Photo: Rob Wilson

About the project

"A Day in Parkchester,” created by artist William Low, features two picturesque day and night scenes of the neighborhood. Fabricated into 40 faceted glass panels, the monumental 11-foot-high windows are located in the two stairwells leading from the mezzanine to the platform, filling the space with light and color. 

The main characters are the sun and the moon, placed high above the Bronx cityscape with rolling hills, beautiful old apartment buildings, and green parks. Low was intrigued by the idea that commuters pass by the windows at different times of the day and the effect of the changing light from morning to night. Light and the location became both the subject matter and focal point. The windows capture the daily light beautifully throughout the day, receiving the stronger daytime rays in the morning and the softer light in the evening hours. The colorful glass provides commuters with the opportunity to view and enjoy its effect throughout the day. 

Low was born and raised in the Bronx and was inspired by the station's design, incorporating elements of the original mosaic frieze into his work. The artist has fond memories of riding the subway while growing up in the Bronx. 

About the artist

William Low is a painter and illustrator based in Huntington, New York. His signature style uses classic painting techniques to depict city and nature scenes with shimmering sunlight and evocative color. Drawing from real life observations, Low's work conveys personal experience as shared memory. He has won numerous awards including four Silver medals from the Society of Illustrators and has illustrated several beloved children’s books. He is currently the principal in Cobalt Illustration Studios and is a professor at FIT.