Local artists present public proposals art concepts to Olympia Arts Commission

The Olympia's Arts Commission on Thursday, November 10, opened a public hearing for the Martin Way and Pacific Avenue Art Crossing Public Art concept plan, with two community members pitching in their suggestions for possible art pieces.

Through the city council's approval in May, Jennifer Corio and Dave Frei were commissioned to the public art project.

Corio and Frei were at the Arts Commission meeting to present their art concept, highlighting the "community, the richness, all the assets, and the sense of connection."

Through the help of Stephanie Johnson of the Parks, Arts and Recreation, the artists had a neighborhood tour to help draft the concept.

"Through the surveys and talking to people, what kept recurring is what people value the most… They love trees, the green space and the nature, the people, the diversity, acceptance, the friendly and helpful spirits, and the connection," Corio said.

“Fruit tree”

Corio described the art piece as having a dimension of eight to nine feet in diameter.

The art piece, Corio added, references the history and importance of the orchards as a livelihood for people. "Fruit is such a great metaphor for abundance," she said.

“Hands/Fruit”

The second piece, according to Corio, expressed human connection. She described the art piece as having three hands reaching toward each other.

"So that sense of coming together, connecting. The theme of diversity comes through the different colors of the hands," Corio explained.

As for the materials, the ring in both sculptures would be made of weathering or Corten Steel, one of the approved materials of the Washington Arts Commission. It is pre-rusted, which would have a rich patina to it.

The canopy and the leaves are stainless steel. The fruits would either be made of hollow stainless steel or solid hardwood balls.

Arts Commission chair Jim Burlingame expressed his appreciation for the artists for considering the community input into the art concept. "That is tough to refine all of that into a few symbols and speak to the history and interests of the people in the neighborhood."

Public feedback

Community member Dana McAvoy said the artists captured all their comments when the neighborhood met with them via Zoom.

"I liked the concept of the tree with the apples that represent the neighborhood very well. I liked the hands. I think that brought the connectivity [concept], McAvoy remarked"

Another community member, Roger Horn, said he does not want the circle in the fruit tree. He would rather have the tree to be open. "I thought it would look cool to see the tree, not so much in the circle. But if you do the tree, it would be nice to have a bird or some life in there."

Horn said he preferred the Hands/Fruits piece. "It is more personal to have something like that."

According to Corio, she would have preferred a three-dimensional tree, but the budget does not allow it. "Not only material costs right now are skyrocketing with inflation but the handiwork that goes into when you suddenly turn it into three dimensions with lots of branches and other things."

"Two-dimensional would be okay with me. I like it with a few birds in there. We have a lot of birds in our neighborhood," Horn replied.

According to Frei, the circle in the art piece adds structural integrity. He said taking away that circle adds engineering challenges. "But we will look at it, explore it."

Johnson suggested that the commissioners reach out to community members again to get more information and feedback. "It is a representation of them [community], then make those adjustments and bring that to the city council."