Seattle, please don't be so Seattle-like...
I was forwarded this email by a friend who lives in Brooklyn, NY. It made me sad because while Seattle has this reputation for being all of the cool-sounding adjectives you can think of, this sort of thing happens with EVERYTHING in this city.
This was the first I had heard about the piece, and after looking at the sketches, I’m shocked at the response it has gotten, with people calling it a glorification of war.
It’s pink, it looks like birds-kissing, and it’s a transformation of a military symbol into something much more positive. Considering Seattle’s heritage as the Jet City, and our aspirations for good public art (a la the sculpture garden), you’d think it’d be perfect. I wrote to the Sound Transit officials, if you live in Seattle, I hope you do too.
blog comments powered by Disqus————— Forwarded message —————
From: Mike Ross mikenon@gmail.com>
Date: May 22, 2008 11:04 AM
Subject: Sculpture may be canceled — please help
To: Mike Ross mikenon@gmail.com>
Hey folks. As some of you know, I was selected to make a sculpture
for Seattle’s new subway station in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. I
proposed a sort of stylistic sequel to Big Rig Jig, using a pair of
fighter jets. The jets would be deconstructed into pieces, painted
pink and orange, and spread out along organically-inspired curves
above the station platform between the ceiling beams (they have high
ceilings in this station). The exact design is not yet finished. But
you can see mock-ups of some early variations here:
http://www.mikenon.com/capitolhill/
The project is in now in danger of being canceled, and I need your help.
Several people have written letters to Seattle’s transit agency, Sound
Transit, complaining that the piece is offensive, a glorification of
war, and culturally insensitive to neighborhood residents. The area’s
43rd-District Democrats have even passed a resolution officially
condemning the sculpture:
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/…
Unfortunately, the only people who have been moved to write letters
are those who object to the sculpture, and the transit agency is
seriously considering canceling the project. It has been demoted from
“approved” to “not yet approved,” and the rest of the station
development is now proceeding without the sculpture, until we can
demonstrate significant community support.
I am hoping that some of you might know people in or near Capitol
Hill, Seattle, who can see the potential of the sculpture, and who
disagree with the idea that it is offensive or a glorification of war.
It may use military technology, but it is not just a pair of jets —
it’s jets, chopped up, painted pink, and made to look like two birds
kissing. There is a peaceful message there, and I believe the artwork
will ultimately be accepted by its detractors as an object and process
which references many of their own views. But before that can happen,
the transit agency needs to know that there are people in the
community who support the sculpture.
If you know anyone who might wish to write a letter or email (emails
are just as good), they should send it to the following two people:
Joni Earl, CEO
joni.earl@soundtransit.org
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
Barbara Luecke, STart Program Manager
barbara.luecke@soundtransit.org
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson St.
Seattle, WA 98104
Thanks for any help you can offer. Please feel free to forward this email.
Mike Ross
mikenon@gmail.com
