Followup: Alki Beach Park groundbreaking for ‘Luna Girls’

The photo is courtesy of West Seattle artist Lezlie Jane, along with an update on her newest work – homage to the Alki boardwalk’s past as a swimming hotspot:

Luna Girls on Alki have broken ground and begun the construction and installation phase of the project. The sculptures should be should be completely installed just after the start of the New Year. We’re still raising money to meet the construction costs via our Kickstarter campaign.

You can see the design and hear its story in Lezlie’s Kickstarter video:

The top photo, meantime, shows John Kroetch and his crew from Signature Landscaping, who are doing the construction. As explained in our earlier reports, Luna Girls on Alki joins the long list of artworks she has created for and installed at local parks.

visitor November 28, 2012 (4:09 pm)

This area does not need any artwork. Why is the parks department putting a big piece there.

Dianne November 28, 2012 (4:26 pm)

No, no, no…while I have nothing against the sculpture or the artist & I do like the the piece @ Comorant Cove, this is being placed in the wrong spot. There has got to be somewhere else at Alki or Anchor Park it can go. The view of the Sound is beautiful as it is & should not be obstructed.

yobot November 28, 2012 (4:31 pm)

Neat sculpture but its going to block a wonderful view. Not needed here, can it be put somewhere else?

WSB November 28, 2012 (4:48 pm)

This was already moved from a previous proposed location, as noted here four months ago:
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https://westseattleblog.com/2012/07/luna-girls-artwork-on-alki-new-location-proposed-on-boardwalk
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And before that, it had been discussed at two Alki Community Council meetings, so it’s already gone through the discussion phase.

Bill November 28, 2012 (5:01 pm)

On a second look — pretty much a see-thru so certainly not a view blocker — maybe over in the area around the BSA staue of Liberty. OK — I give — put it up — like I said — “not really a view blocker” but would be a lot better dubbed “Alki Girls” — rather than “Luna Girls” —

SaraS November 28, 2012 (5:03 pm)

Too bad nobody actually swims at Alki anymore..

godofthebasement November 28, 2012 (6:07 pm)

Very sad to see the anti-art comments of a few my fellow West Seattleites posted above. Very sad.

WS Parent November 28, 2012 (7:20 pm)

I don’t think they are anti-art comments more so than anti-location of the art comments, and I have to agree with the above posters. This isn’t the location for it.

Dank November 28, 2012 (7:22 pm)

I don’t think these remarks are anti-art as much as pro-nature. This artist has other art pieces at Alki. My concern is that the city did not go through their regular convoluted process to install art work, or to construct anything for that matter, in particular in in this beautiful and relatively pristine natural setting. Suddenly a big piece of art appears on the horizon – it came like a thief in the night. Granted I don’t read the west Seattle blog every day, but this is the first I ever heard of it. DK

WSB November 28, 2012 (7:39 pm)

For those interested in the process – it was discussed multiple times at the Alki Community Council, which is yet another reason why we espouse involvement with your neighborhood council – that is where consensus, feedback, approval is sought, and not always with big loud advance notice; the city Parks Department invited Lezlie Jane to work on something for this area. At one point it was considered for the traffic “island” up at 63rd and Alki, where there have been some installations already, involving rocks and landscaping – then in July, the new location was revealed at the ACC (our story – https://westseattleblog.com/2012/07/luna-girls-artwork-on-alki-new-location-proposed-on-boardwalk )
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It is privately funded, for those who wondered – TR

Flickertail November 28, 2012 (7:52 pm)

Block the view? Maybe, if you walk right up to it and view it with a telescope…

patt November 28, 2012 (9:22 pm)

Nice piece. Luna is good name, call up the water parks of the past. Those girls look like they are having fun and can handle themselves. There was a bubble view of the city by the old water towers, Very cool installation, but it was vandalized and taken away.

How many pieces of true public art do we have in West Seattle. (Not included the murals on private property?)

Oh BTW, Anyone remember the mural that will be torn down by Fauntleroy and Alaska for the new project?

David Hutchinson November 28, 2012 (11:03 pm)

Just an opinion…
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Alki Promenade: approx. 1930 feet long (based on Google Earth).
Luna Girls: 15 feet long.
This would seem to leave plenty of space to enjoy an unobstructed view of Puget Sound and the Olympics. This does not even count the similar views that can be seen from any spot along the 1.5 miles of Alki Beach Park from the east end of the Promenade to Duwamish Head.
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As has already been pointed out, it’s only a thin outline of the figures and the life rings, so it shouldn’t be as imposing as one might think.
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As far as the appropriateness of the location, please check out the history of the installation site on the Kickstarter website referenced in the story above. To me, it seems like a perfect fit, and a great spot to enjoy a new piece of public art.

Rick November 29, 2012 (4:49 am)

So maybe I don’t particularly care for the “Arts” , yet I’m forced to fund them, and maybe I don’t care for the “Luna Girls”, yet I’m forced to fund them also, and just maybe I like my “funded” beach the way it is. Must I cater to the part of society that deems it necessary for their enjoyment to force that on me at an expense to all? “You don’t know what is good for you until you’ve been told so”.

WSB November 29, 2012 (6:48 am)

To reiterate – this is NOT a publicly funded project, for those who object on those grounds.

pjr November 29, 2012 (6:42 am)

I agree with David 100%.

datamuse November 29, 2012 (7:36 am)

Funny, Rick, I feel the same way about some of the things that my taxes actually DO fund. Unlike this…

AJP November 29, 2012 (9:02 am)

I think it’s great! Interesting and fun. It’ll become a great spot to take photos with your friends while making these poses. Cool!

Bill November 29, 2012 (10:17 am)

Rick…you don’t have to pay for it. Go find some art you would pay for…if you can. Don’t spend all your time saying no to everything.

WS expat November 29, 2012 (2:01 pm)

Not publicly funded – good. Appropriate to the location and the area’s history – good. West Seattle artist – very good. Plus, the piece is unique, unlike our poor Statue of Liberty replica.
“Thief in the night?” Hardly. The Community Council discussions moved at a reasonable pace, unusual for Seattle, Land of Endless Process. Guess we’re so used to having projects talked to death, some people don’t bother to show up for public discussions.
The “Luna Girls” are a charming addition to the neighborhood. There were many who didn’t like the execution or location of “Walking on Logs” at first. Give the “girls” time and they’ll grow on you.

Rick November 29, 2012 (2:14 pm)

Aren’t our public works projects budgeted for a percentage for “ART”? or was I out of class that day? I do not object to that but I don’t have to like it. If it’s private funding, fine. But using public land… Just playing devil’s advocate here.

Rick November 29, 2012 (2:18 pm)

@Bill, stop by my shop to see some art I paid for. But then again, it was MY choice. Why would you assume I say NO to everything. You don’t know me. Sorry Tracy

WSB November 29, 2012 (2:42 pm)

Just one more thing, since I was just on the phone about another project … 1 percent for art is a city program that relates to some other departments but has no relation to this. Also, somebody asked about permits etc. The project has a shoreline exemption because it is not leading to any loss of vegetation nor increase in impervious surfaces. And it was reviewed by the Seattle Arts Commission as well as having been shown to the Alki Community Council. Once again, I highly urge everybody who is interested in public works of all types to get involved with local community organizations because that’s where they get shown first and reviewed. We try our best to get to most meetings and stay in touch with most groups but that’s no substitute for your direct involvement. Last but not least on this one – there is apparently an informational sign at or near the worksite, as was the case when the Statue of Liberty Plaza – also involving private funding – was installed. – TR

Elizabeth November 29, 2012 (4:55 pm)

Do the ladies themselves have names?

Wes C. November 29, 2012 (5:21 pm)

I like the concept, and it really fits with the history of the beach park. But do you really think this thing will remain unscathed after a summer of delinquents hanging out down at Alki?

patt November 30, 2012 (9:52 am)

Name the girls? Thora is a good name for one. I have a photo of my GR-aunt Thora drinking “tea” out of a cup with a bunch of other Seattle Norwegians at a 4th of July celebration at Alki in 1908 very close to that site.

WS Citizen November 30, 2012 (11:37 pm)

Strange my earlier comment didn’t post. I wanted to say as someone who lives in another neighborhood of West Seattle, that I wouldn’t consider going to the Alki Community Council because the pressing issues in my neighborhood include nuisance houses.
I love West Seattle and take my family to Alki. I still think that the process used to pick this location for this artwork is sad.

Sorry, comment time is over.