August 14, 2021 - Obey Fire Sale

 

The wildfire smoke in the Puget Sound area gave a slightly orange tinge to photos on this day.  It was a somewhat befitting atmosphere for Shepard Fairey's five-story mural on the side of the State Hotel near Seattle's Pike Place Market. 

The mural by Fairey, most famous for the "Hope" poster of President Barack Obama, comments on the challenges one faces in pushing for environmental and climate responsibility.  "Each individual that cares about the planet has the daunting task of being up against very powerful corporations..." 

August 8, 2021 - Then and Now - Alaska Way

 

The transformation of the Seattle waterfront has been pretty dramatic.  The removal of the double decker Alaskan Way Viaduct and replacement with an underground tunnel has removed the arterial gash that separated downtown from the waterfront.  Development is proceeding and the transformation will only continue.

December 2017 (above) and April 2019 (below)

In April 2019 the viaduct was in the process of being torn down and the $3.3 billion, 2 mile tunnel underneath downtown, the longest road tunnel in the contiguous United States, had opened. 

Today (below) Alaska Way is more open and the development where the viaduct used to be is progressing.  

Below is a July 2016 southbound view from one of the 90,000 vehicles, that utilized the viaduct until its closure in January of 2019.  The view was often scenic, but it was hard not to think about when the next seismic event would suddenly bring it down. 

June 13, 2021 - Puddle Jumpers

A damp day was an appropriate time to view the six joyous youths captured in Glenna Goodacre's "Puddle Jumpers" sculpture located at Kirkland's Marina Park. 

As with many sculptures there is a story.  One part of the story is that the sculpture is even here for visitors to enjoy.  The sculpture was initially installed in 1990 and is considered an icon in Kirkland.  However, it wasn't actually commissioned or acquired by the city.  It was loaned to the city by a resident art collector.  A number of the recognizable sculptures in Kirkland - "The Water Bearers", "Cow and Coyote" and "Mountain Comrades" - were also loaned to the city by this same collector, Bill Ballantine.    

The sculpture, Glenna Goodacre passed away in April of 2020.  Some of her famous work includes the image of Sacagawea on the dollar coin, the Vietnam Women's Memorial (Washington, DC), The Irish Memorial (Philadelphia, PA) and Raising the Flag (Detroit, MI).  (Another of her 'works' is her daughter, former model Jill Goodacre, Harry Connick, Jr's spouse!)

In 2001 the sculpture, valued at several hundred thousand dollars, was scheduled to be sold and shipped to Santa Fe to go on sale at a gallery there.  Joan McBride, Kirkland City Council, found out about the transfer two days before it was to be shipped.  She succeeded in spearheading a drive that quickly raised enough money to keep the sculpture in Kirkland.  Her quick action has ensured that visitors to Marina Park will continue to enjoy the sculpture for years to come.