Thanks to the reader who sent photos of West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen‘s latest signal-box work:
That one, at 35th and Fauntleroy, is Nikola Tesla (here’s a picture on Hansen’s Instagram account, including finishing touches). Nearby, at 35th/Avalon:
That’s since been completed too – as you can see here, it’s Macklemore. It’s been almost 11 months since the artist started his project.
These are great and I love seeing them around but can I put in a request for a couple of female ones ASAP. Thanks!
Yes was coming here to say the same thing… lack of women representation is weird! Are they city sanctioned? Because …. just saying it’s weird
the more art in our lives, the better! thank you for your efforts!
Now if we could only get some cigarette receptacles that also functioned as art along our city streets. If it’s on the ground it’s in The Sound 🌊
Love these portraits!Reading the comments -huh, yeah -would be nice to see some women represented.I thought the theme was folks tied to PNW, but if Tesla is going in, how about:- Ada Lovelace- Grace Hopper- Lauren Jackson (PNW)- Ann & NancyWilson (PNW)
Let’s see City gray box or well done art? Easy choice, the renderings are awsome
Brandi Carlile is up for six Grammies next month. I’d like to nominate her for the next one!
Carol Channing would also be a great addition.
Someone defaced the Bruce Lee at Morgan and 35, it bums me out when I see it. Great job on making this part of town a little different, and a little more like home.
Really?!?! That sucks! I haven’t been at that intersection for awhile to see that. Maybe Desmond can fix it up?
These are amazing and I love seeing them. I hope you can bless south delridge with your skillz someday :-)
“I love your artwork, but if you could make it different and with the people/ gender I want to see in it, I would love it more.”
I vote Ann and Nancy Wilson, Debbie Armstrong, Dixie Lee Ray, Lauren Jackson and/or Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe….
can we get more female/male/minority/species/genetic makeup to shine light on this long hard fight we have been having. i just feel like you are being very biased against non human object… where are the paintings of thinly sliced ham? where are the pictures of all the poison ivy? for the love of you know who… where are the paintings of the gefilte fish? explain yourself…..
Actually, Mr. Hansen also painted lovely roses on a box beneath the west end of the bridge.
Lol at some of these comments.Public art is kind of a tough line of work. Keep up the good work Desmond
So here’s why this matters. Those paintings are being done on city property. They are beautiful and a wonderful addition to the environment but the reality is that when art or culture over represents one culture and underrepresents other cultures that has long term consequences for the health of the environment as a whole. Mr. Hansen’s work is spectacular but it has exclusively highlighted male celebrities to the exclusion of many excellent options for female artists. This becomes more egregious when he starts including non local celebrities because the previous explanation was that the art was to celebrate local people of note.No one should tell Mr. Hansen, or any other artist, what they can or can’t create as art but the city bears a different responsibility to it’s citizens. Maybe another artist needs to be given the space to do some of this work to increase the diversity of subjects if it isn’t something that Mr. Hansen wants to focus on.
Hi CAM- I’m not getting it. could you please give an example of another local art project that better represents all the cultures appropriately?
Desmond, thank you for your cool art that really brightens up WS! I am curious though why Tesla is the newest subject. I thought the theme was famous Seattleites. What is the connection?I was also saddened to see the defaced Bruce Lee, but on my way home tonight it looked like it may have been fixed. I’m huge Bruce Lee fan and that picture is in a perfect spot for me to see when I get done teaching my martial arts classes!
I love the paintings that Mr. Hansen has done, he has celebrated some icons from Seattle’s past regardless of gender. I would like to see paintings of Paul Allen, Doug Baldwin, Lenny Wilkins and JP Patches.
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