Public Art Is Different From Regular Art

Last Wednesday’s public meeting about Mike Ross’s and my art for the Capitol Hill Sound Transit Station went great, really great. Standing room only, and a very thoughtful, positive discussion.

So here’s my proposal!! Two, actually: two murals. “Crossed Pinkies,” the mural for the (main) North Entry, is about 45′ long and 13′ high.

From the corner of Broadway and John:

Here’s a neat-o InSketch movie of what it might look like to walk into the station, thanks to Hewitt Architects:

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“Walking Fingers,” the mural for the West Entry, is 28′ wide by 20′ high.

The view from the east side of Broadway, looking west:

Neat-o InSketch movie:

More about the project….

I’ve lived in Capitol Hill since 1989, I love it here, how exciting is this?? Mixed bag, of course, as the area getting demolished is smack in the middle of the neighborhood and will be a construction site for the next eight years. Nevertheless! I’m still in some disbelief that I’m actually doing 1., such massive murals, at all, and 2. in such a prominent location. An honor and a thrill, very truly.

Sound Transit is building an over- and underground light rail system that will go as far south as the airport (finally, a convenient way to get to SeaTac, sheesh) and as far north as Northgate (Northgate Mall, here we come!). Read more about the big plan here. Read more about the Capitol Hill Station here.

Here’s where the station is going in the neighborhood (bye bye, My Favorite Peroshki and your fabulous borscht):

Below are some renderings of Mike’s proposal that had everyone all running around with their arms in the air. Real fighter jets, deconstructed, painted pink, orange, and yellow, and rearranged so they look kind of like birds kissing. Without getting too far into artists’ statements and analysis, Mike’s brings in themes of transformation and dynamics in opposition (aggression and non-aggression, technology and organic forms). I designed my own “Crossed Pinkies” to relate to his piece, with two similar entities coming together and interacting at a focus point in the middle, and involving dynamics in opposition (in mine, coming together and pulling apart).

Next: meetings! Meetings! Spreadsheets! Meetings! I know grants take a load of paperwork too, but, wow!