Art under the bridge: What’ll be beneath the Spokane St. Viaduct

While at SDOT headquarters downtown two weeks ago to discuss the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, now in its final months (our story’s here), they mentioned that they would soon be able to share renderings for the art to be included in the work, part of the SDOT Art Plan, which in turn is part of the city’s “1% for art” rule. And here’s a peek:

Project manager Stuart Goldsmith explains:

>Merge Conceptual Design (Franka Diehnelt and Claudia Reisenberger) out of Santa Monica, CA will install a colorful paint treatment for a large number of concrete columns under the Spokane St. Viaduct between East Marginal Way and Fifth Ave. The design will treat much of the space under the viaduct as one artwork; changing the atmosphere and enlivening the space, creating distinct zones to help with orientation, and creating a strong identity that can be experienced by a diversity of user groups.

The artists will create eight different zones, each featuring its own color scheme and iconic imagery. Every zone will focus on a narrative related to neighborhood history or contemporary uses. Each narrative will be “told” using graphic icons and barcode patterns that reference aspects of the neighborhood.

The art work will be one of the final components completed along the westbound surface-level Spokane Street before it reopens as the project finishes up this summer. The artists were chosen almost three years ago – as noted in this city newsletter – from among more than 200 applicants.

chas redmond February 20, 2012 (6:08 pm)

We’ll have to wait and see how this works. It’s still dark under the freeway. The artistic columns under I-5 on Jackson or under I-5 at Ravenna do not make it any the more pleasant – it’s still dark, damp and uninviting. Be equally interesting to see what these “eight” zones are on Spokane. The Electric Company Store zone, the Paint and Oil Company Store zone, the Railroad Track Crossing Zone, the Used-To-Be-A-Foundry zone, lots of opportunity here – the City Light LIves Here zone.

datamuse February 20, 2012 (6:18 pm)

I like the pillars on Jackson, myself.

coffee February 20, 2012 (6:19 pm)

I am somewhat disappointed that city funds are not funding local artists. I think the money shoul only be spent locally.

RG February 20, 2012 (7:02 pm)

I dont’ understand. This is supposed to be tax-payer funded? If so, then why wasn’t there a call for artists – Seattle artists. Artists who have lived here all their lives, in all different neighborhoods. Artists who have worked so hard in, and for, the Seattle arts community.
.
And, the panel process that chose this art? Did they spend a huge amount of money flying artists in from around the country to judge it?
.
The only thing I’ll identify it with is Santa Monica, California.
.
(I’ll go put my paints away now, I’ve lost inspiration…)

Leslie February 20, 2012 (7:02 pm)

I agree. I wish the art work had been given to local artists.

KD February 20, 2012 (7:17 pm)

Coffee; I second that, only local artists (aren’t most of them ‘starving’ artist’s anyway?) Also, the Jackson Koi fish are beautiful!

SpeakLoud February 20, 2012 (7:45 pm)

Ooooh I like it

lisa February 20, 2012 (10:56 pm)

The Koi on Jackson are the most integrated and the most beautifully executed of the freeway pillar art.They are hard to top. Hopefully we will enjoy the “graphic icons and barcode patterns” half as much.

mookie February 20, 2012 (11:57 pm)

Underwhelmed.

rocky raccoon February 21, 2012 (3:17 am)

Breathtakingly dull.

Robin February 21, 2012 (6:29 am)

I agree with complaints about not supporting local artists for this project. The proposed designs not only lack imagination, but are cold and completely unappealing. Is it too much to ask for a hint of nature underneath cement structures – such as the mentioned “Jackson koi” or the beautiful seashell and water elements on the overpass along 99 in Shoreline?

Really? This is the best the City could come up with? What a missed opportunity and waste of money.

Jtk February 21, 2012 (7:49 am)

This should have been given to local artists.
Could these designs be any more DULL or Un-inspiring… or Plain?… Really?… I have a prettier shower curtain that I got at Target!…

Neighbor February 21, 2012 (8:29 am)

I am sickened that this was given to out of town artists. Shame on whoever made such a call. The artists in THIS city are suffering terribly because of the economy. Now every time I see these I’ll be thinking of artists whose pieces I have on the wall who had to sell their home or relocate to a studio that is way too small to produce. Isn’t it mandated in the city’s 1% rule that the art actually comes from Washingtonians? Can anyone explain how this happened? City Council members???

WSB February 21, 2012 (9:24 am)

Re: the local vs. nonlocal – As referenced in the story, this contract was awarded three years ago, and the “applicant pool” was described as including more than 200 people/teams. I do not have the time to read all the fine print of the 1% for Art ordinance
http://www.seattle.gov/arts/publicart/ordinance.asp
.
but it does not appear to be limited to only local artists; the ordinance and program have been city law for almost forty years.
.
Other projects we have covered have included art by people from out of the area – one that comes immediately to mind is the sculpture outside new Fire Station 37. If you think that projects in the program should be awarded only to local artists, please contact City Councilmembers, as they would be the ones to propose changes in the law.
.
P.S. The state has a similar program, and a legislator apparently voiced similar concerns. I found this KUOW story from last month.
.
http://www.kuow.org/northwestnews.php?storyID=145202261
.
TR

bridge to somewhere February 21, 2012 (8:50 am)

Put a bird on it!

WS expat February 21, 2012 (9:20 am)

This is a scandal.
Who was on the selection committee when this graceless wallpaper was chosen? What was the criteria? What local artists didn’t make the cut and why?
If the purpose of 1% for art is to “(enable) people in all societies to better understand their communities and individual lives,” and “(enhance) Seattle’s standing as a regional leader in public art,” why is money from the Municipal Arts Fund going to California artists?
If I understand the process – and I may be mistaken – we (the city) will be on the hook to maintain these works since the cost of maintenance and preservation isn’t included in the deal. Talk about adding insult to injury!

chris February 21, 2012 (9:49 am)

The lower 8 feet will be covered in graffiti in no time at all. A better investment would be in grey paint for constant repainting.

jo February 21, 2012 (10:04 am)

I vote for “The Groucho’s” and/or variations on the same theme.
Anyone with me on that?
Jo

WSB February 21, 2012 (10:16 am)

While talking with the SDOT managers downtown, when this was mentioned, I actually brought up the paper-and-paste wolves that appeared by the low bridge five years ago:
.
https://westseattleblog.com/2007/06/reintroduced-to-the-wild-side-of-ws

RG February 21, 2012 (11:07 am)

Thanks for the wolves reminder WSB.
.
Regardless of how I feel about the wolves project, there exists strength and meaning to it because it was created by passionate local artists rather than out-of-state professionals. Salaried people at a ‘commission’ didn’t sit around and judge whether or not it’s “art” and then slap a dollar amount on it. Government-forced art doesn’t tend to make me think like this kind of art does. When I see art (esp guerrilla art) created by passionate artists that wasn’t filtered through an approval process I feel like I’m experiencing faithful home-grown art – installed because of the artist’s own inward drive. And, honestly, I feel what’s being proposed for underneath the viaduct is mere ornament, not art. (I understand it comes around full circle of what constitutes art.) There’s so much potential for that space…

realist February 21, 2012 (1:26 pm)

I for one can’t wait to see what the real artists do with this new canvas. Though it is too bad that our money is being shipped out of state for the opportunity.

george February 21, 2012 (1:51 pm)

I think they missed the point. The one thats .1%, not 1%.

Bounce February 21, 2012 (2:29 pm)

Finally we get serious about that “world’s largest clipart” record.

WorldCitizen February 21, 2012 (2:50 pm)

Ugly.

dsa February 21, 2012 (4:48 pm)

This site says it’s 1% of the project.
.
http://www.seattle.gov/arts/publicart/
.
“…The program specifies that 1% of eligible city capital improvement project funds be set aside for the commission, purchase and installation of artworks in a variety of settings. …”
.
Really? Which project are these funded from? They look like nothing more than something stenciled on. I hope the city gets the right to own and use the stencil if that’s the case.

metrognome February 22, 2012 (12:30 am)

as there has to be direct or indirect (thru WSDOT) federal money involved in this project, I’m pretty sure the funds can’t be restricted to local artists (unless you want to give the feds their money back …) It is unusual for artists who are so far out of the area to bid on something like this; it’s a good bet that with the poor economy, there are fewer ways for artists to keep food on the table, so they hunt further afield. Hopefully, the pieces will be fabricated locally. I would bet money that there are Seattle area artists who are awarded funds for projects in other states.
Also, maintenance is usually not included in the artist’s contract although there should be a warranty period for flaws, poor design, etc.
In case you didn’t click on the link to the newsletter, the decision was not the city’s alone:
“A panel of artists, design professionals and representatives from Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) selected the artists from a pool of more than 230 applicants from across the country. “