Concrete, metal, wood, stone boulders, sandstone, quartzite, trees, architectural artifacts, picket fencing, cyclone fencing, chain-link fencing, steel bed headboards, streamers, splints, a crutch and keystones
Type:
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures-Bench
Sculptures
Owner/Location:
Administered by City of Seattle Seattle Arts Commission 312 1st Avenue North Seattle Washington 98109
Located Along 1st Avenue, from Virginia Street to Denny Way Seattle Washington
Date:
1978
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Washington survey, 1995.
Heritage Preservation SOS! survey of NEA Art in Public Places funded sculpture, 2002.
Image on file.
Seattle Arts Commission, "A Field Guide to Seattle's Public Art", Seattle: Seattle Arts Commission, 1991, pg. 25-29, 98-99.
(On welcome mat incised:) WELCOME (On some benches:) "G2" unsigned
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
An environmental sculpture along five blocks, including bus stop benches, clusters of trees, tree grates and tree supports. The benches are variously made from wood, slabs and columns of sandstone and quartzite, and architectural elements from fallen buildings, such as the keystones from the cupola of the capitol. The benches come in a variety of shapes, including cylindrical, pie-shaped, trapezoidal and a cube on wheels. Some are engraved. One bench is made of three sandstone slabs arranged like three steps. At the foot of the steps, inlaid into the sidewalk is an engraved sandstone welcome mat. The trees include purple plum trees to mark bus stops, evergreens, cherries, three varieties of cedar, gingkos, and flowering magnolias. The trees are protected and supported by a variety of materials including colorful picket fencing, cyclone fencing, steel bed headboards, chain-link fencing, colorful streamers, splints and a crutch.
