Part III of an On-Going Series
by Kirby Lindsay
Evanston Avenue hosts a significant portion of public art in Fremont. The particular pieces along this avenue have few common denominators, either in the art or the artist(s). Three pieces - Evanston Plaza, the Blue Plate Special and The Gods of Fremont series – previously noted already show this diversity, and it grows only more pronounced as a visitor strolls north.
Fish Totem
Installed: approximately 2006 Artist: Mike Peck Peck personally installed this totem behind his buildings, on the alley, but today he doesn’t recall the exact installation date. He described the piece as a mosaic of pottery shards that contain fish images and mirrored glass. He created a series of similar totems for a show, and made this one, “to decorate the back alley of Fremont.” Located on the southern edge of the 607 & 611 North 35th Street properties (along the alley shared with the Epi building.)
The Fremont Rocket
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Installed: 1994 Lead Artist: John Hoge, with contributions by Rodman Miller (neon), Quinton Lickliter (mural), and Roger Wheeler (painting) The “Fremont Rocket Scientists” were Josh Logan, Mike Peck, Charlotte Buchanan, Jon Hegeman, Rodman Miller, Roger Wheeler, and Don Carver, a group of dedicated dreamers who sought an icon around which to rally the struggling Fremont retail community. To that end, they purchased the rocket when its original home, on AJ’s Surplus (in Belltown,) was due for demolition, in 1991. It languished on back lots around the ‘hood as they sought a landlord willing to host it, and someone creative enough to install it. An extremely atypical example of his work, Hoge cleaned up and created a whimsical rocket – which included a coin operated steam-generator (which demanded far too much maintenance, and was eventually dismantled) and a mural on the building (painted out by the tenant in 1998.) For those not already intimately aware, The Rocket sits nearly atop a single-story building at the southeast corner of 35th Street North & Evanston Avenue.
Sidewalk Art Project
Poured: March 18, 2006 Lead Artist: Jessica Randall Originally Randall envisioned doing this installation, designed by third-graders from B.F. Day Elementary School, on every street corner in Fremont. However, the City of Seattle refused further permits after the first two were granted. In December 2010, Randall mentioned that she continues to pay, personally, a permit fee to the City for this installation, and its continued “use” of the sidewalk. Contributors (and volunteers) on these two pieces include Mrs. Thompson’s 3rd Grade class, David Roman, Peter Castle, Isaac Perk, Emily Gerard, Jon Hegeman, Dan Steifel, Greg Blandon, David Perk, Monica Alcabin, Pierre Mourad and his son Derrick, Patricia Halsell, Rodman Miller, Susan Miller and her son Reid, Tony Su, Kristen Foss, and Lorelei Mesic. Located in the sidewalk at the southwest corner of 36th Street North & Evanston Avenue North.
The SPACE In Fremont
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Final installation: June 2007 Lead Artist: Jessica Randall, with contributions by Kim David Hall, Chris Daly, Emily Gerard, Rob D’Arc, Jon Hegeman, Isaac Perk, and David Roman Randall also has a comprehensive list of the financial donors, volunteers, assistants, and in-kind donors that supported this large-scale project. It began in 2005, when she attended a public meeting regarding a building project proposed by developer Brian Regan. Looking at the drawings, she dreamed of installing art in front of it. Over two years she persevered and constantly adapted her vision to arrive at what stands now – a piece of benches, plantings, permanent sidewalk art and wildly creative lamps. Located on the extended northern corner of 36th Street North & Evanston Avenue.
Brian Regan has promised to further increase the art along Evanston Ave. He has plans to build on the southwest corner of 35th Street North & Evanston – and to incorporate art into the development, just as he did for the Space Building. Considering the varied themes, artists and scale of the art that surround the site, his options remain as broad as the universe as to what he might install.
Related Articles
- Bringing SPACE to Fremont
- by Kirby Lindsay, August 24, 2006 in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook
- Fremont Public Art Inventory: Epi (Part II)
- by Kirby Lindsay, December 27, 2010
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.