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 Linda Thomas
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New Seattle public art, 'I don't get it'

June 10, 2012 @ 5:44 pm (Updated: 4:42 pm - 6/11/12 )

"What are those figures supposed to mean? I don't get it."

ArtCUJamie Cantzer from Garland, Texas looks at sculptures as she walks through downtown Seattle's Westlake Park with her sister Sylvia Ollerhaus.

The women, in their 40s, pause to take pictures with the metal figures.

"It must mean that people don't sit on the benches here much because they're taking up space," Sylvia says as they turn to me asking for an explanation of the new public art in Westlake. "Why are the trees blue? What are ya'll thinking up here?"

The Blue Trees have been at Westlake Park for several months.

Honey Locust trees that are growing in Westlake were temporarily transformed with environmentally safe pigment to "inspire awareness about global deforestation."

The blue coloring hasn't faded since April. A larger installation, by artist Konstantin Dimopoulos, can be found on the Burke-Gilman Trial in Kenmore. He's from New Zealand, and does these kinds of art projects all over the world.

The Burke-Gilman project is funded by private donations and King County's "1 percent for the arts" program. The $24,000 cost covered the artist fees, supplies and equipment. The $2,500 Westlake Park project is funded by the city of Seattle

Sharing space with the blue trees at Westlake is a new public art project called "Borders." It's the creation of Icelandic artist Steinunn Thorarinsdottir.

There are 26 life-size, androgynous human sculptures - 13 aluminum and 13 cast iron. Some are standing, some seated on the Westlake park benches. According to the artist they "mirror each other in silent conversation and form unseen borders."

As visitors pass by or investigate the sculptures, they cross the borders between the sculptures and serve as "ambassadors."

"Okay, if you say so," says Ollerhaus. "We have public art in Dallas too, but it makes more sense than this."

The exhibition, addressing humanity and diversity, will be there until the end of August.

The city tells me no public funds were spent on the art. The installation was funded by the artist and private donations.

WestlakeArt

ArtFull

Trees

Photos and story By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (34)


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  • xplanes wrote...
    I'm still waiting...
    June 11, 2012 3:47 pm
    ...for that piece you were writing on how people used guns to save lives. I see from reading this story you are busy researching in the art community. Good luck with that.
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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    xplanes
    June 11, 2012 5:25 pm
    I snapped a few pictures and wrote a story about public art on a Sunday, wouldn't call that research but it was fun. Isn't variety supposed to be the spice of life? The guns story will happen, but not this week. Treatment for adults who were sexually abused as children, an adult victim of abuse talking about what he went through, stay-home dads, and Miss Plus Washington all coming first. "Guns save lives" next week, based on the availability of one of the people I want to talk with.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • xplanes wrote...
    I get that..
    June 12, 2012 9:47 am
    It's not the main focus of your blog, but to write a fairly one sided article and say that it is balanced because you intend to do the other side at some future date after the usual fluff pieces is well... not balanced in my opinion. Not that I expect that here.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    This is just
    June 11, 2012 3:52 pm
    Dumb.
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  • rubegoldberg wrote...
    A lot of people say, "What's that?"
    June 11, 2012 6:31 pm
    It's Pat! A lot of people ask, "Who's he? Or she?" A ma'am or a sir, accept him or her or whatever it might be. It's time for androgyny. Here comes Pat!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    sculptures with no guns . . . .
    June 11, 2012 7:12 pm
    remenber this is Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Attempting to explain the importance of art to people who see things black and white
    June 11, 2012 7:43 pm
    Is a waste of time.They will NEVER get it.They have no concept as to how art can inspire.Let em whine and pity them.
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  • Snout wrote...
    Messiah
    June 11, 2012 7:58 pm
    I appreciate art. I was born just blocks away from the Met in NYC and grew up with it. My Mom is an artist. I've been to the Louvre, sketched on a bench at Giverny, and have studied art history at the UW. And in all cases I paid for it. (yeah, some conservatives do appreciate the arts). Art is something I appreciate. I just don't want you or anybody else to pay for it.
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    I thought the whole point of "art"
    June 11, 2012 9:36 pm
    is to inspire and make people think and debate and to spark discussions?

    So why are you freaks who think this is a good thing whining about those of us who think differently?

    And, in keeping with Roomtemp's post: In regards to the top 2 photos:

    "A politicians dream voter?"

    I know, I know! I have mastered the "art" of caption!

    Don't praise me, just thank me........ for my contribution to the "arts".

    Well, as an artist you know how much I love your praise too......

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  • roomtemp wrote...
    @soo purletiv...
    June 12, 2012 2:32 pm
    "dream voter" -hehehe... For pic #1 I was going to go with...

    Mankind looks over the horizon to a future filled with hope. Just as nature s#'s in his eye...

    You wanna talk about art. Some pigeon can hit you in the eye while doing 30 mph in a banked turn. That's some serious Stuka skills. Fear him...

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  • kata wrote...
    art is personal
    June 12, 2012 10:38 am
    One man's trash and all that...

    My work varies from hyper realism for gaming software, to classic illustration, to web logos right down to the "clip art" you'd see on the top of a grocery list. In my experience abstract art is very hard to sell and once you've had to go so far as to explain it, you've lost the sale.

    But really, that should be a separate conversation as to whether the City or State makes a good patron. I'd have to say no. Negotiating "worth" is ultimately left up to a few individuals while everyone is footing the bill. It's bound to create problems.

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