March 26, 2016 - Sunny Seattle Spring Saturday

The sun was out on an early spring Saturday morning and with it came all manner of Seattle residents and tourists.  They were out in kayaks, on stand up paddle boards, traveling on ferries, walking dogs, playing volleyball in bikinis (never mind that it was barely 50 degrees out), on roller blades, in running shoes, on skate boards, taking photos, on bicycles or barefoot playing in the sand.

From Alki one can see the Olympic Mountains across a calm Puget Sound to the west, the Cascade Mountains across Elliott Bay to the east and to the north east the Space Needle and the houses on Queen Anne Hill.

March 25, 2016 - Fountain of Seseragi

Tucked into a corner of the primary green space at Seattle Center is a small water feature, the Fountain of Seseragi by Gerard Tsutakawa. Seseragi, or "murmuring waters", is a bronze sculpture featuring a terraced fountain with v-shaped troughs.  The two streams of water gently converge and circulate as one.  The nearby International Fountain is a completely different type of water feature that commands the attention of visitors.  Its powerful and playful water nozzles, choreographed to music, shooting water blasts that seem to reach nearly as high as the overlooking Space Needle.   By contrast, the Fountain of Seseragi was installed in 2000 and presents a quiet, peaceful, intimate space where one can view Seattle Center visitors in an almost detached fashion.

If you've ever attended a Mariner's game at Safeco field you've likely seen another work by Mr. Tsutakawa.  He is the artist behind the 9 foot high bronze sculpture "Mitt" located outside of the left field entrance.

(The  fountain was in a post in May of 2011, but the original file has since been lost.)

March 25, 2016 - Ferry Wheel

The ferries that ply the waters of Puget Sound have long been one of the iconic images of Seattle.  In June of 2012 the Seattle Great Wheel, a ferris wheel located on a waterfront pier was built.  This newer sight on the waterfront may not yet be considered an iconic image of Seattle, but at 175 feet high it certainly is a feature on the waterfront!

March 17, 2016 - Graduate Wizard Room

The Graduate Reading Room in the University of Washington's Suzzallo Library has the feel of a room one might find in a certain school of wizardry.  The Collegiate Gothic style architecture of this 1920s building makes it one of the most recognizable on campus.  In the words of the university president, and the library's namesake, it is a cathedral of learning.  The grand room runs the length of the building and measures 250' long with a vaulted ceiling that reaches 65' high.  The ceiling panels are stenciled and painted, the oak bookcases are topped by hand-carved friezes of native plants.  The 35' high stained glass panels feature reproductions of Renaissance watermarks.  At either end of the room hang painted globes.

The exterior of the library features 12 spires with terra cotta figures that include influential artists and thinkers including Plato, Benjamin Franklin and Shakespeare.  The library borders Red Square.  From the edge of Red Square one can look down the Rainier Vista walkway towards Drumheller Fountain and Mount Rainier beyond.

March 17, 2016 - Quad in Bloom

It is spring on the University of Washington campus if the cherry trees in the Quad are in bloom.  And on this crisp sunny St. Patrick's Day, they are in bloom!  The number of blooms are only outnumbered by the number of admirers armed with cameras!


The trees were originally located near the Mountlake Bridge on the edge of campus but were moved to this more central location in 1962.