Sail

2019 Syosset (Port Jefferson Branch) Long Island Rail Road

The LIRR Syosset station in the township of Oyster Bay serves many communities with a strong connection to the Long Island Sound and Oyster Bay. The sculpture created by Tom Fruin celebrates that connection, dating back to the area’s founding when shipbuilding was a key local industry.

At 18 feet tall, the stainless steel and plexiglass sculpture serves as a welcoming gateway at the station, signifying home, recreation, and natural attractions. The colorful sail casts a kaleidoscope of colorful shadows during the daytime sun, and transforms into a beacon of light at night.

In his sculpture and public art, Fruin takes on urban objects such as houses, water towers, and flags, elevating their form and architectural scale to become a focal point and part of the landscape. Here, he creates his first vessel, a sailboat, with its main form as an arced plane that catches light and creates a sense of movement that animates the station entry.