West Seattle scenes: Wondering whose art this is

Joan has been noticing some apparent “guerrilla art” around town and e-mailed us twice in the past few weeks about them. We made no progress in divining their source otherwise, so we’re asking you. Above is the photo she took yesterday of the latest artwork to appear, this one on a utility pole near 45th SW/Fauntleroy (map), but she says today it’s since disappeared, and the wires from which it hung appear to have been cut. Joan says it recently replaced a similar artwork with the word FISH on it, a lot like the one she pointed us to earlier this month at California/Brandon (map):

Joan sums up, “I am curious as to who is doing this interesting art installation? Any ideas?”

ummm December 30, 2010 (12:31 pm)

I saw this yesterday too, and thought it was really cool! Keep it up, mystery artist!

Karissa December 30, 2010 (12:36 pm)

I don’t think it *is* this artist: http://patrickvsseattle.blogspot.com/

because i haven’t heard if he’s hit west seattle, but perhaps it’s a similar idea.

Unimpressed December 30, 2010 (12:40 pm)

I think the ugly, random staple patterns on the poles are better art than this crap…

Lisa December 30, 2010 (12:42 pm)

I’ve been very curious about these also, and I am enjoying them. Both seem to have disappeared. Has anyone seen any others?

Jeff December 30, 2010 (12:45 pm)

This feels like some kind of guerilla marketing to me. Are these popping up anywhere else in town or in other cities?

Erik December 30, 2010 (12:48 pm)

There have been new pieces of metal artwork on local poles as well. I’ve seen several on Admiral way, one right outside of the 7-11. They fly under the radar as they blend in with the wood, but cool nonetheless to see art in unexpected places.

F16CrewChief December 30, 2010 (12:48 pm)

I think its Port of Seattle engineering sending subliminal messages to us about new Sea-Tac Airport runway plans.

Norma Berube-Adler December 30, 2010 (1:02 pm)

I guess we all have our own definition of what constitutes ”art”.

rachel December 30, 2010 (1:40 pm)

I’ve seen several of these up and down Fauntleroy Way SW going back more than a year. I’m curious too, hope an answer is forthcoming.

cali December 30, 2010 (2:04 pm)

I have seen them as well, the first time being in October of 2009–I still have the picutre on my phone. There is usually one by the new park next to BPP on California.

Cynthia Turner December 30, 2010 (2:33 pm)

I’ve seen these too, and they make me smile. Hope they stay up and there are more to come!

RJB December 30, 2010 (2:58 pm)

All I know is now I have a hankering for some fish…..

redblack December 30, 2010 (3:21 pm)

is that a brass button in the middle of the first picture?
.
if you push it, does a light go on in ballard?

WSB December 30, 2010 (3:31 pm)

I neglected to mention, Joan said that “Alaska” is engraved in that metal piece. A clue?

thankful December 30, 2010 (3:37 pm)

I used to live on Fauntleroy between Graham and Raymond streets and there has been one of these paintings hanging for several years on a light pole. I’ve always loved it and often wanted to take It home – as I am sure others have. Perhaps that’s the reason for the dissapearances. I never took it because that strip of street is not the most beautiful and while it was not decorating my walls it was decorating my view, and i like that better. keep it up who ever you area! thank you.

Jody Rodgers December 30, 2010 (4:00 pm)

Whoever made this art: high-five! Art should not be confined to uptight galleries and museums.

Yardvark December 30, 2010 (4:39 pm)

Excellent work, artist! Shame on you, thief.

Billy December 30, 2010 (5:33 pm)

@ Unimpressed come on lighten up. Show some humor. Life is to short. At least it’s not a long forgotten Yard Sale sign.

ws mavrick December 30, 2010 (5:43 pm)

very interesting, as long as know it is illegal to put those on power poles and they will get ripped down. just a heads up

visitor December 30, 2010 (7:59 pm)

maverick sounds like the same scrooge who obsessively removed all the personal messages from the WS overpass…..some people are just angry all the time! wouldn’t want to be you.

Wild one December 30, 2010 (9:18 pm)

It’s alright I guess. Looks like it should be there. Basically looks like some bland public art that mixes in with the rest of the city. I mean if it does anything for you such as brighten up your day for some reason then more power to ya. But it looks like an abstract street map. blah blah go this way! That way! the grid the grid! Fences fences!

NotMe December 30, 2010 (9:20 pm)

I didn’t see that as ‘angry’ but I was thinking, before reading mavrick’s comment, that the city or utility workers could be pulling them down. I am not sure that anyone is “stealing” them. If they are, I would think the artist has to know they won’t be up for too long before someone does take them.

(required) December 30, 2010 (9:46 pm)

Ha. Fools. Wave when you look into that little gold thing. It’s a spy cam from the planet Goolong. Once they have everyone’s pictures, you’ll all turn into little fish. Fish fish fish.

Sonoma December 31, 2010 (2:55 am)

No mystery about the second one. It’s an homage to Abe Vigoda.

redblack December 31, 2010 (7:15 am)

TR: if you push it, a light goes on in alaska? :)

JLBWA December 31, 2010 (8:21 am)

Twenty bucks says the mystery “artist” is the same person who started the story – “Joan”…

miws December 31, 2010 (8:39 am)

“But it looks like an abstract street map. blah blah go this way! That way! the grid the grid!”

The first impression I got of the second one, was that the top part looks kinda like the street grid change of Downtown Seattle, at Pioneer Square.

Mike

GenHillOne December 31, 2010 (6:10 pm)

I thought the same, NotMe. I suspect they are simply being removed. They don’t do much for me, but I sorta dig the idea of surprise art, so hopefully the artist can find a new way to display it.

Ames December 31, 2010 (6:11 pm)

The piece on California / Brandon has been there for several months. I remember seeing it this past summer and thought it was odd to have a piece of art hanging on a pole like that, but I enjoy it every time I walk by. I don’t know where it came from at all- the pole was “empty” for a long time then one day this picture showed up.