Public Art

Seattle Public Utilities, in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, has commissioned a suite of artworks, both temporary and permanent, that will help tell the story of the underground storage tunnel. Aligned with the goals outlined in the Ship Canal Water Quality Project and the SPU Drainage and Wastewater Art Master Plan, the artworks seek to make the invisible visible and to provide visitors with an understanding of the flow of water on site and through the surrounding neighborhoods.

The City of Seattle's Public Art program integrates artworks and the ideas of artists into a variety of public settings, advancing Seattle's reputation as a cultural center for innovation and creativity. The program specifies that 1% of eligible city capital improvement project funds be set aside for the commission, purchase, and installation of artworks in a variety of settings. For more information about the Public Art program visit, the Office of Arts & Culture’s Public Art webpage or email the Office of Arts & Culture at arts.culture@seattle.gov.

Audio tour: Saltwater Soundwalk

Saltwater Soundwalk is a site-specific audio experience, created by artists Jenny Asarnow and Rachel Lam (Anigiduwagi enrolled Cherokee Nation), about our relationships and responsibilities towards the Salish Sea and connecting waters, centering Indigenous Coast Salish voices and language. Listen on site in Seattle’s Fremont, Wallingford and Ballard neighborhoods or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Commissioned with SPU 1% for Art Funds
Administered by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture
City of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, Mayor

More Information about this audio experience

Saltwater Soundwalk is a podcast that takes listeners on a journey from Gas Works Park along the Burke Gilman trail to the entrance of the Ship Canal at the Fremont Bridge, and explores the people, land and waterways that define Seattle. Artists Jenny Asarnow and Rachel Lam created Saltwater Soundwalk as a site-specific audio experience that explores our relationships and responsibilities towards the Salish Sea and connecting waters, centering Indigenous Coast Salish voices and language.

The audio experience includes a 55-minute-long walk and 12 one-to-three-minute shorts, which can be listened to on site or anywhere in the world. Individuals featured include Ken Workman (Duwamish), Warren King George (Muckleshoot), Michelle Myles (Tulalip), Archie Cantrell (Puyallup), LaDean Johnson (Skokomish), Owen Oliver (Quinault), Lydia Sigo (Suquamish), Randi Purser (Suquamish), RYAN! Feddersen (FLOW artist, Confederated Tribes of the Colville - Okanogan / Arrow Lakes), and Eric Autry (Seattle Public Utilities). The podcast is available on Soundcloud, and all podcast applications.

The podcast is a rhythmic audio experience connecting streams of stories as they ebb and flow, intermixing English with Coast Salish languages. Listeners can learn where the traditional fishing ground "Hit the Water" is located in Seattle. The podcast also explores the traditional Tulalip names of local places, the colonial history of Seattle, and the construction of the Ship Canal. The audio narrative also highlights Indigenous rights, responsibilities, and cultural preservation that are essential to healing these waters, our relationship to them and to each other.

In addition, the podcast includes narratives from public artists and a Seattle Public Utilities manager about how we all impact our living water ways. It provides a unique opportunity to experience how we all connect to the Salish Sea area and is a step towards creating healthier human relationships with this changing ecosystem.

Audio links

Saltwater Soundwalk consists of one 55-minute audio tour and 12 one-to-three-minute shorts. All may be experienced in the Fremont, Wallingford and Ballard neighborhoods, or heard on Soundcloud or wherever people listen to podcasts.

Full tour on Soundcloud

‘Seattle is an engineered city, but it only happened yesterday’ (55 min) The centerpiece of the project, this is a 55-minute audio tour intended to be listened to starting at Gasworks Park. Follow the route along N Northlake Way and the Burke Gilman trail to the entrance of the Ship Canal at the Fremont Bridge; and then return the way you came.

Transcript of full tour (PDF)

Shorts (1-3 minutes each)

Playlist of shorts on Soundcloud

Our people named these places in Lushootseed - Transcript (PDF)
Hit the Water - Transcript (PDF)
It was like a barren wasteland, just plain mud - Transcript (PDF)
74,948 feet of pipe - Transcript (PDF)
Our non-human kin - Transcript (PDF)
We recognize that’s their land - Transcript (PDF)
You know the history of the ship canal, don’t you? - Transcript (PDF)
Paddling straight for four hours in one spot - Transcript (PDF)
RYAN! Feddersen’s ‘Overflow’ - Transcript (PDF)
Your body as a body of water - Transcript (PDF)
The Lushootseed language comes from the land - Transcript (PDF)
Treaties are guaranteed by the Constitution - Transcript (PDF)

Audio tour route

Temporary artwork

Artworks by a variety of local emerging artists are on view at some of the construction sites for about six months. Get on your bike or put on your walking shoes and check out the new artwork!

Artists Selected for FLOW: Art Along the Ship Canal

FLOW: Art Along the Ship Canal is an annual program that utilizes the construction fences along the Ship Canal Water Quality project as a backdrop to allow artists to showcase their unique voices and provide a changing gallery of experiences for those who walk, bike, drive throughout the area. Artists were selected by a panel of artists, community members, and City staff.

See below for more information about the current and past artists on display.

Current temporary artwork

Allyce Wood, Fremont

Landscape, Collage, Waterway, Tapestry

Fremont

Visual artist Allyce Wood's large scale drawings depict our changing city and the waterways that connect us. With colors borrowed from this specific environment, she uses digital means to create new views of our surroundings, incorporating symbols like ribbons, currents and streams, and raindrops to speak to shifts and changes, pools and weather fronts. This series tells the story of the constant pull of water in all of its changeable states.

Four vinyl banners that showcase water-related digital paintings. They are secured to a chain link fence with a black construction screen
Medium: Digital Paintings on vinyl banners with hardware

Marsha Rollinger, East Ballard (www.marsharollinger.com)

Aquatic Kaleidoscopes

East Ballard

“Life on earth depends on water. Throughout the ages, all living creatures have congregated around it. Humans have designed vessels to contain it, traverse it, and created structures to reroute and utilize it. It has been culturally significant throughout history and has inspired imaginative stories that gave rise to timeless legends, deities, and mythical creatures.

For the FLOW project, I randomly asked members of the community what objects, animals, and myths came to mind relating to water. I then drew icons based on the responses I received and used the icons to create a series of kaleidoscope designs.

As an unexpected fun twist, I’ve incorporated three “spot the difference” elements within each kaleidoscope design, inviting passersby to participate beyond just briefly viewing the designs.”

- Marsha Rollinger

Four kaleidoscope-style medallions that highlight aquatic icons using primarily blue, red and yellow colors. They are secured to a chain link fence with construction materials in the background.

Perri Rhoden, Ballard (IG: @Thecurlynugget; www.perrirhoden.com)

A Visual Love Letter

Ballard

I want to dedicate this mural to my younger self and to the communities that poured love, light, and energy into me throughout my life. As I enter my 31st year around the sun, I am growing a deeper appreciation for the importance of self-love, self-care, and self-preservation. This artwork is a visual love letter of positive and healing energy for those who gaze upon it. Healing starts within. My question to you: What part of yourself needs more love and attention?

"Young love, don't ever waste your life
I see that you're searching for peace of mind
Young love, I want you to value your light
I see that you're searching for peace of mind"

-Lyrics by Cleo Soul

Artist, Perri Rhoden, stands in front of their mural. The Mural is brightly multicolored with black and gold spirals throughout the piece.

Malayka Gormally, Wallingford

Immigrant Footprints

Wallingford

Malayka Gormally has exhibited her work in two-person and group exhibitions in museums and galleries in the U.S. and Europe. Her drawings of immigrants are in the collections of SeaTac Airport, City of Seattle, City of Bellevue, and corporate and museum collections. She is currently incorporating the imagery from her ink, watercolor, and gouache drawings into public art projects for the City of Seattle and Sound Transit.

A daughter of an immigrant, Gormally is interested in highlighting immigrants' individuality and presence in our society. Immigrant Footprints incorporates imagery from Gormally's drawings of immigrants in our region who are from India, Ethiopia and Cameroon. Also included in this project are her drawings referencing imagery from vintage photographs of European immigrants at Ellis Island (New York) in 1900; Gormally’s maternal ancestors came through Ellis Island in this time period.

Posters secured to a chain link fence with a black construction screen. The posters have drawings showing groups of people in front of bright solid-colored backgrounds.

Past temporary artwork

Angie Hinojos Yusuf and Carlos Jimenez - Hinojos & Jimenez Art

Chaac

Chaac is the Maya god of rain. This piece emulates the great carved stone masks that can be found on the pyramids in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The masks were made of stone carved into intricate shapes which were assembled together to form the powerful visage of the god. Chaac had both human and animal characteristics, showing the interdependence of all living things and their relationship to life-giving water. It illustrates the natural cycle of the flow of water, as it originates in the clouds, where Chaac strikes his jade axe and causes thunder and rain, to where it falls on the land, is crucial. Water infrastructure will safeguard our environment for future generations.

Two artists in yellow reflective jackets and hard hats stand in front of their artwork which consists of bright colored geometric shapes that illustrate the natural water cycle. — Artists stand in front of their artwork, which illustrates the natural water cycle | Click to enlarge

Artist highlight: Angie Hinojos Yusuf and Carlos Jimenez

Kalee Nelson and Crystal Christopherson

MMIW

Elevating awareness of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) is the key goal of this temporary installation that includes a large-scale mural featuring traditional formline design of orcas. Kalee Nelson is an Alaskan Native from the Tsimshian Tribe and Crystal Christopherson is Alaskan native from the Tlingit tribe.

An artist draws a mural on a large white piece of paper against a wall using paper. — Artists working on mural design | Click to enlarge

An artist colors in a mural with black paint on a large white piece of paper. — Artists working on mural design | Click to enlarge

Murals placed along the Wallingford screen wall in late July 2020. The murals depict 4 killer whales and are drawn in form design. In the middle of the images is a white sign that states Protect the sacred, Missing Murdered Indigenous Women. — Mural was placed on the Wallingford screen wall in late July 2020 | Click to enlarge

Artist highlight: Kalee Nelson and Crystal Christopherson

Katie Miller

Crossing

Crossing is inspired by Seattle’s maritime industry, the nearby ship canal, and our relationship to water. Crossing alludes to a journey moving through or along water and serves as a metaphor for our individual experiences, personal connections to, and reflections on water.

White and blue paper-mache artwork that resembles water flow along a chain link fence at dusk. — Artwork along the fence at the East Ballard site (photo credit: Katie Miller) | Click to enlarge

White and blue paper-mache artwork that resembles water flow with a blue sign that reads “flow” along a chain link fence at dusk on a sunny day. — Artwork along the fence at the East Ballard site (photo credit: Katie Miller) | Click to enlarge

A photo looking down upon a pile of paper mache boats sitting atop of one another. — Paper mache artwork inspired by Seattle’s maritime industry, the ship canal, and our relationship to water | Click to enlarge

Artist highlight: Katie Miller

Minh Carrico

TATTARRATTAT

Honoring the waterway connecting Lake Union and the Puget Sound, the phrase “TATTARRATTAT” is spelled out using the International Code of Signals for water vessels moving in either direction of the canal. The repetition of the palindrome serves as a visual interpretation of the “knock, knock” emanating from a construction site for months to come.

An embroidered image containing cross designs of blue, red, black, white. A larger image of yellow cross on a red background is mirrored near the center of the artwork. — Embroidered artwork Honoring the waterway connecting Lake Union and the Puget Sound. | Click to enlarge

Artist highlight: Minh Carrico

RYAN! Feddersen

Rain activated art by RYAN! Feddersen

In 2019, RYAN! Feddersen installed a series of rain activated medallions based on community input and ideas exploring the idea of how we use water. The temporary series could be seen at various locations along the storage tunnel alignment. She is currently developing a concept for her permanent artwork.

Barry Johnson

If only I could

This work is about duality and the constant role changing that's forced upon Black people. We have to navigate many of our public situations differently from everyone else. Something as simple as turning without using a signal can result in death or any other small act that can easily be glossed over. We're forced to change and constantly adapt our images to exist without threat of punishment. This work reflects the constant change that is forced upon us.

Rectangular blocks in different colors contain images of a black individual in a jean jacket pointing. Each block is colored pink and turquoise and contains fragmented images of the individual . — Rendering of Barry Johnson’s *If only I could* art installation.| Click to enlarge

Hugo Moros

Watergates

The addition of this tunnel to our infrastructure is a testament to our community’s commitment to protect the beautiful Salish Sea. We must also endeavor to eliminate, or greatly reduce our individual carbon footprint, specially where single-use plastics are concerned. This work is constructed from plastic generated over a year by a family of two.

Blue plastic resembling ripples of water placed on top of a chain linked fence. — Hugo Moros’ Watergates art installation | Click to enlarge

Whitney Lynn

Wine-Dark See

Wine-Dark Seee is a series of narrative backdrops; a non-linear sequence of collaged public domain images combined with text drawn from Homer’s Odyssey, an epic poem describing a circuitous journey home, across stormy seas, after a prolonged series of difficult events.

A painting of two ships in the ocean during the middle of a turbulent storm. — Rendering of Whitney Lynn’s *Wine-Dark see* art installation | Click to enlarge

Whitney Lynn's artwork can be seen alongside the Burke-Gilman Trail | Click to enlarge

Janelle Abbott

The Future Needs you NOW You Need the Future

The Future Needs You NOW You Need the Future is a temporary art installation that brings awareness to the impact of climate change on mental health in light of current trends of overconsumption. Artist Janelle Abbott invited community members to send her their well-worn t-shirts in order to recontextualized potential waste into art. The t-shirts were cut into strips, wrapped around wire, then attached to the fencing adjacent to the North Transfer Station in order to spell out this important message that invites everyone to pause and take action for the future of our planet.

Colored t-shirts are tied to together and wrapped around a chain link fence to resemble a flower. — Rendering of Jannelle Abbot’s The Future Needs you NOW You Need the Future art installation | Click to enlarge

Photo of Janelle Abbott's artwork in Wallingford| Click to enlarge

Dofzy

Salmon FLOW

Dozfy is a Seattle-based artist who explores stories, histories and connectedness through his public artworks. Reflecting a balance of yin and yang, his art embodies planning and effortlessness, precision and flexibility. Dozfy has a degree in studio art from the University of Texas, and his artistic style is influenced by Chinese calligraphy, Japanese and American art, realism, comic books, Ansel Adams and Jackson Pollock.

As part of the FLOW ship canal project, Dozfy has chosen to spotlight three local salmon species that have shaped history and culture in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years. Sockeye, Chinook and Coho salmon are intrinsically linked to Ballard—roughly 75,000 pass through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Ballard itself, home to an industrial working waterfront and strong maritime heritage, also reflects some of the defining characteristics of salmon. Like the keystone species, Ballard and the people who call it home are hardworking, determined, tough and willing to meet challenges head on.

Dofzy’s artwork showcasing three different species of salmon (Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho) are hung on a green wall constrasting with the bright reds and dark hues of the salmon. — Dofzy’s spotlight of three local salmon species on display in Ballard | Click to enlarge

Christy Caravaglio

Convergence, Divergence

"My work is inspired by the geometry of quilting and textile patterns as well as the joy of working with yarn and fibers. The design of Convergence, Divergence was inspired by the idea that the water we use converges from many rivers and streams into our homes and then diverges again to drainage, treatment, and the broader sound."
– Christy Caravaglio

Christy Caravaglio's artwork made up of bright colored strands woven into a chain link fence in a geometric pattern, a large section of a pipe sits on the other side of the fence. — Christy Caravagilo’s Convergence, Divergence on display in Fremont | Click to enlarge

Lisa Liedgren Alexandersson and Kait Rhoads

Oceans of Emotion

The title of our installation is a response to the pandemic and turbulent political times. As SPU is updating the drainage system through Seattle neighborhoods to reroute wastewater safely, ‘Oceans of Emotion’ aims to free stagnant life force and release collective emotional blockage. The artist team has invited Seattle residents to create miniature artworks responding to the phrase ‘Release and Embrace’ in words and drawings.

Check out this video to learn more about Oceans of Emotion

Content advisory: The installation is made of publicly sourced content. While the artist team encourage participants to express themselves freely, they will not include discriminatory or graphic language, imagery or hate speech.

Lisa Liedgren Alexandersson & Kait Rhoads artwork made up of small, brightly colored circles suspended along a fence in a wave like pattern. The circles are made up of small artworks made by community members. — Oceans of Emotion showcases participant’s contributions in Wallingford | Click to enlarge

Shawn Parks, IG: @revolushawn

Soak It Up

Art does not need to be long-term. This is a 'time will tell' project that responds to the stormwater upgrade through the Ship Canal Water Quality Project. The idea is for elements of our environment to be absorbed into the sponges over 6 months. They will transform starting out bright, fresh and new. What goes into our water and environment is up to us. A visual reminder that everyone is always downstream from someone else. Hopefully viewers will soak it up.

Shawn Park’s artwork consisting of brightly colored sponges made into patterns on a chainlink fence. — Shawn Park’s Soak It Up on display at the East Ballard site | Click to enlarge

Permanent artwork

As a part of the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, five new permanent artworks will be developed and displayed. Explore below for more information about each artist and their inspiration or take a look at our public art fact sheet.

Vaughn Bell

Tunnel alignment

Vaughn Bell creates interactive projects and immersive environments that deal with how we relate to our environment. Bell will be creating a Connective Thread artwork that will tie all the art themes together and which will run the length of the new tunnel. Bell was an Artist-in-Residence at Seattle Public Utilities and created the SPU Drainage and Wastewater Art Master Plan.

Jeffrey Veregge

Ballard

Jeffrey Veregge is an award-winning Native American comic book artist from the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Kingston, Washington. His work uses Coastal Salish and contemporary graphic design techniques. He is dubbed “Salish Geek” by his fans and peers. Veregge has recently installed murals at the Smithsonian, The Burke Museum, Snoqualmie Casino, and the Citizen M Hotel.

Christian French

Christian French’s, Sing, Calypso, embedded images and a poem into the new 24th Ave NW Pier. The artwork tells the simple tale of a fisherman who was saved from drowning by a magical fish he had spared out of compassion. The artwork can temporarily be seen while the pier is open through the summer.

An image of a salmon made up of steel embedded into concrete. — Concrete art at the 24th Ave NW Pier. | Click to enlarge

An image of a fishing boat made up of steel embedded into concrete. — Concrete art at the 24th Ave NW Pier. | Click to enlarge

An image of a kelp bed made up of steel embedded into concrete. — Concrete art at the 24th Ave NW Pier. | Click to enlarge

Preston Singletary (Tlingit) and David Franklin

Artist team Preston Singletary and David Franklin have been commissioned for the Fremont and Queen Anne locations. Their artwork will tell the traditional native story of Petrel Guards the Water and Raven Steals the Water Paddle through two large-scale canoe paddle sculptures constructed of glass and steel that will flank each side of the ship canal waterway.

A digitally enhanced image of two women walking along a gravel path between two sections of lawn on a sunny day at the park. At the end of the path is a large, steel canoe paddle that contains form design at the end of the paddle. — Rendering of the future artwork at the Queen Anne Fremont site | Click to enlarge

RYAN! Feddersen

RYAN! Feddersen is a mixed-media installation artist who specializes in interactive and immersive artworks that invite audience engagement. She was born and raised in Wenatchee, WA. She was inspired to create interactive and temporary artworks as a way to honor an indigenous perspective on the relationship between artist and community. Her approach emphasizes humor, play, and creative engagement to create opportunities for personal introspection and discovery.

The artwork concept, Overflow is a waterjet-cut art fence which illustrates connections between our water usage, city planning, hardscapes, waterways, and underground systems. By reflecting on the many ways we need water to live healthy and happy lives, we acknowledge that we all personally benefit from access to clean water.

Public Art

Audio tour: Saltwater Soundwalk

Audio links

Shorts (1-3 minutes each)

Audio tour route

Temporary artwork

Artists Selected for FLOW: Art Along the Ship Canal

Current temporary artwork

Landscape, Collage, Waterway, Tapestry

Aquatic Kaleidoscopes

A Visual Love Letter

Immigrant Footprints

Chaac

MMIW

Crossing

TATTARRATTAT

Rain activated art by RYAN! Feddersen

If only I could

Watergates

Wine-Dark See

The Future Needs you NOW You Need the Future

Salmon FLOW

Convergence, Divergence

Oceans of Emotion

Soak It Up

Permanent artwork

Tunnel alignment

Ballard

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