Category Archives: Art — there is art here!

Fremont Troll

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You know the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff? Remember the troll? Well, the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle has its own troll located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge (also known as the Aurora Bridge). In the troll’s gnarly hand is an actual VW Bug, that I assume he snatched off the bridge.  The troll was built in 1990 as part of an effort to clean up the area. It has indeed become a popular tourist attraction with a dozen or so folks stopping to play (the kids) or take photos while I was there. Per Wikipedia “The Troll was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.” I’m not in love with the current orange decorations on the troll, but I’m hoping its a temporary thing. To see the troll without the orange and to read more, go to http://fremont.com/about/fremonttroll-html/

Update 2/13 Here is a photo of a model of the Troll that was at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry

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Seattle Statue of Liberty

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Today was dear husband and my wedding anniversary and we decided to celebrate by taking a Segway Tour through West Seattle. It was our first time on Segways and we simply loved it! The tour guide, Tina at West Coast Segway Tours, was great (encouraging, fun, smart) and the weather was lovely. And how lovely West Seattle is! We went down a big hill to Alki Point and glided along the waterfront.

After the hour and a half tour we went out to Spud’s for dinner and then walked along the waterfront to view Seattle’s Statue of Liberty. The statue was erected by the Sea Scouts and the Boy Scoutsin 1952. It is one of 200 1/18th size replicas of the Statue of Liberty put into place in 39 states and 4 US territories. In 2006 the statue was recast by The Bronze Works in Tacoma.

Casa De Leche in Puyallup

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Casa de Leche is located in the Gold Parking Lot near one of the main entrances to the Puyallup Fairgrounds. My Spanish is rusty (or almost non existant), but it seems to me that it translate to the house of milk. The fun cow shaped sculpture was created by Bruce and Shannon Anderson and is part of Puyallup’s Arts Downtown’s Permanent Art Collection. The Anderson’s website can be found here http://www.andersenstudios.com/index.html

Heathergems

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There is only one place to buy jewelry made from the heather plant and that is from the Heathergems Factory in Pitlockry, Perthshire, Scotland, UK. The making of the gems is a cool process. First the roots of the heather plant are gathered and cleaned, then they are cut and dyed different colors from local, natural dyes and then they are bound tightly. Over time they roots compressed into a single multicolored piece which can then be cut and shaped like stone. Once shaped, the gem is shellacked and mounted for jewelry.

http://www.heathergems.com/

Diamond Jubilee in St. Jame’s Park

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The Queen is having her Diamond Jubilee this year, marking 60 years on the throne. To honor the occasion, this topiary was created to replicate in flowers the queen’s crown during her coronation. There is a nice write up of it here http://www.jannaludlow.co.uk/My_Brush_With/Jubilee_2012.html

My World Childcare

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My World Childcare at 5915 Orchard Street is closed, but their wonderful mural remains! I didn’t find much about the business except that their motto was “Helping your child discover their world”. But really the story here is the vivid mural featuring children playing, reading and working. I hope whoever leases the building next appreciates the artwork and lets it remain.

 

 

For the Birds

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My husband in particular admires these lovely bird houses that are for sale in front of the house at 4613 Sixth Avenue. They are pretty spectacular and available for purchase by calling 253 226 0086.

Lovely Flowers at Glacier View Jr. High

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The family had a meeting at Glacier View Jr. High School in the South Hill area of Puyallup today and I had to take some photos of the lovely metal flower sculpture! The website for the school is here http://schools.puyallup.k12.wa.us/junior/glacierview/index.htm The school’s mascot is a Yati.

Childhood’s End Gallery in Olympia

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Childhood’s End at 222 4th Avenue West in Olympia is one of my very favorite galleries. They feature Northwest and national artists and have a delightful combination of unusual and lovely decorative and functional items. Today I bought a pair of earrings that feature a tree design.The exterior wall of the store has this dramatic mural.

http://www.childhoods-end-gallery.com/

 

Kunsan, Korea Monument

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There are many lovely things to see along Ruston Way including this monument from one of Tacoma’s sister cities.    It is called the Kunsan, Korea Monument and it is located at 3771 Ruston Way, Marine Park, Ruston Way. This granite monument states “In commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the great state of Washington, the citizenry of Kusan City herein inscribes its friendship”.