Alexandria sets 75-day deadline for final view of 'Now or Never' sculptures
Two monumental billboard-style structures stand in Waterfront Park until November 8, 2026, when a public party marks the end of the installation.
By Bianca Herrera ·
The City of Alexandria has scheduled a final public gathering for November 8, 2026, to mark the removal of the controversial public art installation 'Now or Never.' The sculptures, which have occupied Waterfront Park since March, will be taken down shortly after a celebration event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The installation consists of two large structures that mimic the visual style of billboards. They are positioned to face each other across a narrow walkway. One structure displays the word NOW, while the other displays NEVER. The physical arrangement requires visitors to walk between the two words to pass through the space. The City of Alexandria’s Public Art Program commissioned this piece as the eighth entry in the annual Site See: New Views in Old Town series.
The artist, Alicia Eggert, designed the work to interact with the natural environment. The sculptures are rotated twenty-two degrees north of true east. This specific orientation ensures that the summer solstice sunrise on June 21, 2026, occurred directly in the gap between the two structures. The sun rose at 5:43 a.m. on that day. Eggert invited the public to witness this alignment, which ties the concept of time to the natural world.
Eggert describes the phrase 'now or never' as a reminder that every moment offers a choice. She notes that the work speaks to global challenges where hesitation can lead to lost opportunities. The physical act of moving between the polarized words is intended to suggest that common ground is possible even in divided circumstances.
The closing event on November 8 will feature music from DJ Geena Marie. Visitors can also interact with the City’s Mobile Art Lab. While supplies last, attendees will receive a small 'Now or Never' yard sign. The installation has been part of the park's landscape for eight months, running from March through November 2026.
Alicia Eggert is an American artist born in 1981. She is an Associate Professor of Studio Art at the University of North Texas. Her work focuses on giving material form to language and time. She has exhibited at institutions including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing. Her pieces are held in collections such as the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery and the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.
The city previously hosted a virtual panel discussion on October 3, 2026, titled 'Seeing Time.' The session was moderated by curator Leigh A. Arnold. It featured Eggert alongside artists Angela Adams and Sandy Williams IV. The discussion explored how art can make time visible to viewers. The recording of this event is available on the City of Alexandria’s website.
The temporary nature of the Site See series means these sculptures will not remain in Waterfront Park permanently. The final weekend of access allows residents and visitors to engage with the work one last time before the space is cleared for the next season.
