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SPU bear art brandi kruse photo compressed
This is just one of the strange aspects of Seattle's new solid waste processing center - an art display made of refrigerator doors, paid for by tax-payers. (Photo: Brandi Kruse)

Your tax dollars at work: Art for a garbage dump

BY Jillian Raftery  on February 5, 2013 @ 12:32 pm (Updated: 12:31 pm - 2/6/13 )

Brandi Kruse investigated a listener's tip to the Dori Monson Show that the new state-of-the-art Seattle Public Utilities transfer station that was scheduled to open last year was still under construction.

Brandi shared her exclusive story update with Dori, and she also shared this photo of art paid for by the city that was built and installed at the new transfer station.

The artwork, titled "Cool Bear", was made from refrigerator doors collected at the transfer station by local artist Steve Appleton. The bear stands over 15 feet high and 25 feet long. The City of Seattle art project description says Cool Bear is a temporary display.

Calandra Childers, a spokesperson from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs stated that it cost $30,000. She also said that the Cool Bear may or may not be temporary.

"To clarify, this has been sited at the North Transfer Station and will remain there until construction begins," said Childers in an email. "It's possible that it may become a permanent work at the new transfer station but we just can't guarantee that until construction is farther along. Because we can't guarantee that it is permanent, we're calling it temporary for now."

The City of Seattle describes the project:

As part of his Phase I - Residency and Temporary Artwork Project, Appleton will construct a free-standing Cool Bear polar bear sculpture created from waste brought to the transfer station. Made from recycled refrigerator doors, the Cool Bear sculpture points out ironically through its use of materials the relationship between consumption, manufacturing, waste and recycling, and its impact on nature. The dimensions of the water-jet cut and stack constructed bear will measure 14-19' in height and 25' in length. The Cool Bear will be sited in the grassy knoll in the NE corner of the transfer station, and will be clearly visible to visitors when they enter and exit the facility. The location and size of the sculpture will also allow the surrounding neighborhood to get a partial view the double-sided refrigerator door bear.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (13)


  • Add A Comment

  • monkeyal wrote...
    Urban legend has it that
    February 5, 2013 12:03 pm
    transfer station (dump)employees nationwide and for years have been cherry-picking metal, aluminum, collectibles, and other perceived valuables and worthwhile trash and resold it for millions of dollars on the side. Now, confirmation of that would add greatly to the value of this story!
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    What better place?
    February 5, 2013 12:53 pm
    Something to offset the nastiness of a city dump.I just love hearing the comments from our WingNuts when ever "ART" is spoken about in public projects.I often wonder how the places that they live in look.I picture a cement block building with functional only furniture.Kind of an above ground bomb shelter with sleeping bags,camp stoves and blank walls no grass,tiny windows. Very Eastern Block looking
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  • TwoTrees wrote...
    It's not the 'art' that's disturbing...
    February 5, 2013 1:39 pm
    It's the (yet to be confirmed) six figure sum paid for it! Surely, we can at least agree that a better use could be found for that money.
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  • Derrol_o wrote...
    Twotrees
    February 6, 2013 7:07 am
    Nah, more waste means more taxation, more taxation means more wealth redistribution, leading to more collectivism meaning more power for the government and less power for evil rich people. m101 likes the government and anything it does.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Derrol_o
    February 6, 2013 12:29 pm
    Yep I sure am glad we have the QUALITY of government that we have in the USA and I don't mind a bit paying for it either.Art is important in the Quality of our lives,Art inspires.Remember the Government got us where we our as a country,would you want to live anywhere else even with the problems that we have?What is it that you people are so darn unhappy about.
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  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    Why not let tagger artists paint the cement walls for free?
    February 5, 2013 1:44 pm
    Looks a helluva lot better than a piece of trash bear and wouldnt cost a dime.
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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    So your just Ok with paying 6 figures
    February 5, 2013 2:08 pm
    for temporary art.

    Im glad you are ok with wasting tax payers money, You should apply to work for the State, You would fit right in with them as a manager.

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  • Cougsfan34 wrote...
    Not Urban Legend
    February 6, 2013 12:39 pm
    Not urban legend. My cousin use to work at WM and use to take pieces of metal and selling them to scrappers all the time.
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  • TwoTrees wrote...
    Anyone remember the Jello wall erected last Summer in Seattle?
    February 5, 2013 1:34 pm
    Man, I'm glad the city shelled out for THAT piece...Monet, eat your heart out.
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  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    Right On!
    February 5, 2013 1:39 pm
    Because every other part of our government and schools are flush with cash, right? QUIT VOTING FOR MORE TAXES, LIBERALS!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mako wrote...
    Dump--bears
    February 5, 2013 1:54 pm
    I'm I missing something Dori-you talk about the new dump at FREMONT and the bears jumping off the Aurora Bridge???? Where is this new dump?--great story Dori you are right on top of things unless I heard you wrong.
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  • Mavila wrote...
    I think it's more accurately called a...
    February 5, 2013 3:47 pm
    transfer/recycling station. It's not a dump per se. It's the last stop before getting shipped off to the dump.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    Dough Man STOP WHINING!
    February 5, 2013 6:55 pm
    Jesus H you pick on Al Sharpton (Rascist) the guys talkin about Michelle Obama's Butt (rascist) A King Co dump fer Chris sake! You are really not a candidate for an Edward R Murrow Award...Stick to reporting on the Mariner Hawks or the Sacramento Sonics (Hint....they are in Oklahoma dudester)
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