Public Art

I had such fun today!  For three years, I have been on a committee to select artists, and ultimately artwork for our town--$600,000 worth.  It has been amazing!  The first phase is done.  

We had the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony today, of which I was in charge of.   Nick and Jean gave a 30 minute presentation about the forging process.  It was amazing---18 months to create these pieces.  The Mayor spoke, DOC rep, WSAC rep, etc.  I am so glad that it went well, and so glad it is over.  But mixed feelings about that too.  For the past three weeks, during installation especially, I have made some new friends.  And we won't be seeing so much of each other anymore.

Artists, Nick Lyle and Jean Whitesavage, completed 6 sculptures along a walking/bike path in our town.  They are of local wild flowers, potato blossom, and wheat.  The work is entitled, "Prairie Flowers, Potato, and Wheat."  I live along the bike path, and so my home was their home for the 10 days or so that they poured footings and installed the pieces.  There aren't any port-a-potties along the trail!  We even were able to have them for dinner, and they are wonderful!

Their works are of hand forged steel.  They are amazing.  Nick and Jean live on Whidbey Island.  They are nationally known artists.  Quite renown--you should google them!  And now we have some of their work here.  We are so lucky.  This is part of the Washington State Art Collection, Art in Public Places.  It contains over 4500 pieces of art.  Whenever a state/government building is built---1/2 of 1% of the building costs is used for public art.  So $600,000 is that little slice of what it cost for our local prison expansion.  Amazing......

Jean and Nick holding the ribbon while the Mayor gives it a snip.

Crowd is behind me.

We had a "walking tour" along the path with the artists for the public.  Here is me getting a shot with Nick, Jean, the Mayor, and Rhonda.  

I have to get my picture with famous people sometime!

This sculpture is "Blazing Star."

"Yellow Bells"

The tour had ended at this point, and we are just hating to leave.

 Alice Taylor, of the WSAC, on the left.  She is such a great person.  These are three people I have loved getting to know over the past three years.  Hopefully they will come back to visit!

It was a little sad to say goodbye, but the festivities went wonderfully! 

And this is what I came home to............

A sleeping dad and his little girls!