New Public Art Installation
The Land Between Open Water is a site-specific installation that honors the Bronx’s early inhabitants, the Siwanoys, descendants of the Munsee-speaking Lenape. Installed on both the northbound and southbound platforms of the Westchester Square—East Tremont station on the 6 train line, the installation features eight powder-coated stainless steel panels that depict the resourcefulness of the Bronx's first inhabitants from the 14th to 17th centuries. The installation invites commuters to reflect on the history that surrounds them and lies below their feet.
The title, The Land Between Open Water, translates from Snakapin, the name the Siwanoy people gave to the territory. Each panel illustrates the tools, techniques, and artifacts uncovered during archaeological excavations conducted between 1917- 1919. These findings, documented at the National Museum of the American Indian, capture a glimpse into Indigenous life in this northeast section of the Bronx. The artifacts depicted include antlers, earthen vessels, bone awls, arrowheads, and tortoise shells.
The panels serve as historical illustrations that connect the past to the present. They complement the notable mosaic glasswork "City of Glass" by Romare Bearden, which celebrates the vibrancy and growth of the area's cityscape. By presenting artifacts from the Snakapin territory, the panels provide a foundational history of the borough and visually honor the enduring legacy of the Siwanoy people within the city’s present-day landscape.