Seattle Gets Some Guerrilla Art

image via The Seattle Times

Public art, whether it is commissioned by a city or business, serves an important civic function. For those who may not find themselves in a museum, the art presents itself for viewing, hopefully opening the eyes of unsuspecting passersby. Public art can change an environment and often it is constructed to compliment another structure, or it makes a commentary on its surroundings. Public art can also, in rarer circumstances, appear overnight in an act of guerrilla expression. A few weeks ago I wrote about the lawsuit filed by the creator of the iconic bull sculpture in Bowling Green Park in New York. The bull first appeared as guerrilla art after the stock market crash of 1987. Now Seattle has its own guerrilla artist who struck last week by installing a sculpture, which consisted of several pieces, in the city’s Gas Works Park. In the work a papier-mâché golden figure stands front and center, one hand on his stomach the other gripping his head. Around him are scattered egg-like shapes some of which have body parts emerging from them. Affixed to the sculpture is a note:

Anew is gifted to the citizens of Seattle in the spirit of awakening. Each of us has shells to break through, parameters to look past and wills to exercise. Arise and stand and then start moving. If still here I will remove once the rains return.”

Unlike diModica’s Wall Street bull, which has become a New York landmark, Seattle parks authorities have stated that they would allow the work to remain up until 8/27, which was yesterday.

via The Arts | Guerrilla-art sculpture appears overnight in Gas Works | Seattle Times Newspaper.