Route Zenith

Zenith is defined as the point in the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer.  Like a point in the sky, Route Zenith is the focus of the vast atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building, an object where people gather and orient themselves as they traverse the space.   The sculpture is monumental in scale.  Its two large metal grids, arranged symmetrically along the central axis of the atrium, are accented by vertically placed neon tubes in red, blue and yellow.  The play of color on the glass surfaces of the space shifts throughout the day and evening, varying with the change of light and movement of visitors.

Keith Sonnier is internationally recognized for his large-scale architectural neon installations.  With several contemporaries in the 1960s, he challenged traditional sculpture, introducing new forms and industrial materials.  By 1968, he had discovered neon, which became the identifying element of his artwork.