Friday

Seattle Opens New Sculpture Park to Public

Seattle may not have the best weather 365 days a year, but if by chance you are visiting on one of the beautiful sun-filled days, you can’t miss the new Olympic Sculpture Park.

An extension of the Seattle Art Museum, the park officially opened to the public January 20, 2007. Located on the scenic Seattle waterfront, the park features unique and interesting sculptures from artists around the world. Admission is entirely free, but be aware park hours are enforced. From October to April, the hours run 7 am to 6 pm, while May to September extends the hours from 6 am to 9 pm.

Don’t go in, however, expecting for the art alone to blow you away. Like so many creative endeavors, these pieces only astound in the right context. The outdoor statues, fountains, and even eyeballs that double as benches are not exactly the kind of art you’ll see lauded in textbooks. But couple these pieces with the astounding views Seattle’s waterfront has to offer, and the pieces take on a life of their own.

The “Eagle” by Alexander Calder, in particular, frames the city beautifully. Standing at various viewpoints under its angular, orange wings, you’re offered postcard shots of the Space Needle, neighboring Belltown, and beautiful Elliott Bay.

Another must-see highlight is “Seattle Cloud Cover” by MacArthur Foundation fellowship recipient Teresita Fernández. Stretching 200 feet long beside a concrete bridge walkway, it overlays the skyline of the city with colorful and dramatic laminated glass. Viewed from another angle on a sunny day, the work imprints a vibrant image of itself on tiered concrete to stunning effect.

Considering this area was formerly an unbecoming mass of concrete which served as a parking garage, the park has dramatically changed the feel of the immediate vicinity. The sculptures are all slightly quirky, especially those aforementioned eyeball benches and a lone rotating ampersand held aloft on a metal pole. But in addition to the quirk, they all have a decidedly casual, outdoor feel, which fits the mood of Seattle’s art scene perfectly.

And no matter how laid back the medium, art is culture. And the vibe of the entire area has improved because of it.

Remember, if you’re not able to view the park in reality, you can always enjoy it through cyber-reality. Follow this link (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sculpturepark/) for an interactive website with a synopsis of each piece and the space in general.