Oxon Hill, Md. — Nothing quite prepares you for the sight of a 72-foot aluminum giant clawing its way out of the earth. At National Harbor, just outside Washington, D.C., The Awakening has become one of the region’s most unforgettable public sculptures — and one of its quirkiest roadside-style attractions.
Created by artist J. Seward Johnson Jr., the art attraction consists of five massive pieces: a face twisted in mid-shout, a hand reaching skyward, another arm, a bent knee and a foot pushing up from the ground. Together, they give the impression of a giant buried beneath the sandy surface, struggling to break free…