West Seattle’s quirkiest public artwork takes another fall

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That photo was sent by Rose Feliciano, one of four people who messaged us today to report that the trailside tribute to Rolf Neslund has fallen again – and lost its head again. (First – background if you’re new – Rolf Neslund is the pilot blamed for the 1978 ship collision that forced the old West Seattle Bridge to be replaced. He subsequently retired and was murdered by his wife in 1980. HistoryLink summarizes the saga.) In 2020, during the first year of the West Seattle Bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure, a mysterious “historian” installed the statue along the bike/foot path by the bridge, declaring Rolf “patron saint of the broken bridge.” Days later, the statue itself was broken; someone made off with its head. A month later, it was restored and reinstalled. Then one year ago, the whole sculpture simply fell and needed re-assembly and re-installation (Rose was part of that project); this time its head is missing, nowhere in sight. Who did it, and what happens next? Hard to tell with a rogue artwork that belongs to nobody and everybody; we’ll keep our ear to the ground!

Delridge resident May 11, 2024 (6:47 pm)

SAY IT ISN’T SO…! I hope Saint Neslund’s beautiful visage is recovered soon. Pray for his safety and speedy return!

Karlsnarl May 13, 2024 (7:12 am)

The bust of Rolf and its plaques took ingenuity and $$ to make, and I enjoyed seeing it as I bicycled to work due to the misery of the alternate 1st ave. south bridge route. I’d be glad to help if it is reinstalled – I have some ideas and materials to make it a lot more difficult to destroy –

Alki resident May 11, 2024 (8:32 pm)

Seems like you’re making fun of this happening again. It’s a shame we can’t have things here without vandalism to ruin it. I hope the pieces are located though at this point it’s likely at the bottom of the Duamish sadly.

JDB May 11, 2024 (9:13 pm)

Ugh, of course you have a problem with this. It is a silly statue with a silly history, which was reflected in the way they wrote the story. You really think they would make fun of it getting vandalized?

Take note, WSB – you can’t get too creative with your writing or Alki resident will accuse you of making fun of something.

And stop beheading Saint Neslund, whoever you are!
- Alki resident May 11, 2024 (10:07 pm)
  
  Of course I have a problem with this? What does that even mean? The guy was murdered, I don’t remember the original story but this keeps happening to the statue whether it’s by someone who knows the history not. Can we not honor a dead man? Strange response
- C May 13, 2024 (4:51 pm)
  
  Most statues have some small group of people that find them silly. Normalizing vandalism against things you disagree with is how you get a trashy city.
Also an alki resident May 11, 2024 (9:31 pm)

The statue is also technically an act of vandalism on the trail, it just happens to be a more socially acceptable act of vandalism.
- Jethro Marx May 12, 2024 (12:00 am)
  
  Welcome to the human experience, where creating art/community ephemera/vandalism is generally valued over tearing the thing down, even though it be legal to do so.
- Bbron May 12, 2024 (8:29 am)
  
  Alki Resident projecting criminality on what they don’t like while defending the actual criminal activity because they like it. I wonder if there’s a word for this 🤔

junctioneer May 11, 2024 (9:25 pm)

*second quirkiest Quirkiest award goes to the NSFW and slightly horrifying statues on the property behind the West Seattle Nursery, which if memory serves was involved in a collision and featured on the WSB some years ago.

K May 12, 2024 (7:57 am)

When I clicked on this headline, I assumed those wood carvings would be the topic!
clinker May 12, 2024 (8:12 am)

That counterculture guy is colorful and community oriented. He posts invites to socials about gatherings at his house often.
Tired May 12, 2024 (2:30 pm)

If you don’t like somebody art you don’t have to say bad things about it. He is the most sweet and community driven guy that I know. He invited everyone to his house in different occasions during the year. Specially during hard times for people who is alone during holidays.
- junctioneer May 13, 2024 (12:52 pm)
  
  That’s excellent, I have no comments on his character, but it doesn’t mean the art he displays is any less NSFW or horrifying, and since it’s very publicly exposed (pun intended) and in the planting strip, it’s very much welcoming public comment.

PPR Neighbor May 11, 2024 (10:15 pm)

I wonder if it was the threesome of copper harvesters blocking the trail as they rifled through their new found stash of electrical distro that knocked ole Rolf off his perch. They were super intent on making it to the recycler before they close at about 3:30 today.

The Earl May 12, 2024 (4:31 pm)

Really no surprise with the funny business that goes on down there. Can be a frightful walk.

Karlsnarl May 12, 2024 (7:23 pm)

I always enjoy discovering clever art pieces decorating West Seattle homes and yards! A house at 21st and Dawson has some vintage neon signage including Reddy Kilowatt, a character I remember seeing in ads as a child in the 60s. Another neighbor has a beautiful interactive chime & mallet creation on their parking strip. I won’t live in a neighborhood that has an HOA that ruins everyone’s joy and individuality.