Alexandria removes 'Now or Never' sculptures from Waterfront Park
A final viewing event on November 8 marks the end of the eighth installment in the city's annual public art series.
By Matthew Collins ·
Two monumental sculptures standing across a narrow passageway in Waterfront Park will be removed after a closing celebration on Sunday, November 8.
The City of Alexandria's Public Art Program is dismantling 'Now or Never' by Alicia Eggert, the eighth piece in its annual 'Site See: New Views in Old Town' series. The artwork has been on display at the park from March through November 2026. The final public viewing is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on November 8.
The installation consists of two large structures that mimic the visual language of signs and billboards. One structure displays the word 'NOW' while the other displays 'NEVER.' They are positioned face to face, requiring viewers to walk physically between them. This design encourages movement through the space to suggest the possibility of finding common ground in polarized circumstances.
Eggert designed the sculptures with a specific celestial alignment in mind. The structures are rotated twenty-two degrees north of true east. This orientation ensures the sun rises directly between the two pieces on the summer solstice. The alignment connects the work's themes of time and choice to natural rhythms.
Residents and visitors attended a special sunrise event on June 21 to witness this alignment. The public was invited to join the artist at 5:30 a.m. to observe the sun appear between the structures at 5:43 a.m. The event allowed photographers to capture the moment from early morning positions.
The closing celebration on Sunday will include music from DJ Geena Marie and access to the city's Mobile Art Lab. Participants can view the artwork one last time and receive a 'Now or Never' yard sign while supplies last. The City of Alexandria commissioned the piece as part of its effort to bring contemporary art to a historic location.
Alicia Eggert is an interdisciplinary artist born in 1981 who holds an associate professorship in Studio Art at the University of North Texas. Her work gives material form to language and time. She has exhibited at institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Everson Museum of Art. Her pieces are held in collections at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery and the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.
