SCENE AROUND

Mystery sculptures appear on East Bay Drive

Stones, signs, symbolic statues strike strollers silently with sisterhood … or brotherhood?

Posted

Quietly last summer, when social justice protests were daily events following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others, an anonymous person or group produced an informal public display on East Bay Drive in Olympia.

Part protest, part artistry, it combines two pairs of figures made from black and white plastic pipes, perhaps two adults and two children, arm in arm. The abstract nature of the pieces leaves it to the visitor to decide if the figures are speaking to each other or to them, or if they are simply enjoying their view of East Bay across the street.

The assemblage is on a spit of city-owned land at the west end of San Francisco Ave NE too small to be labeled and too steep for a typical city park.  

“It seems to be an informal group that made all this,” according to Laurie Barnoski, who lives in the neighborhood. Rather than a protest, “the purpose of it seems to be unity, since there are both black and white figures, she added.

“This group seems very earnest, making a positive statement to the community on unity. I would see them meet sometime to change the messages to ‘Black Lives Matter’ or ‘Vote.’ Taking walks I noticed that many people stopped to take pictures of it,” said Barnoski, who sent The JOLT photos recently.

Vandals, or the weather, tore apart the various pieces in mid-November. As quietly as it had first appeared, an anonymous person or group put it back together.

Scene Around is a new feature of The JOLT. Please let us know – or send us a photo -- when you see something beautiful, creative, pleasant or inspiring.

Comments

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  • Freethinker

    They are kneeling. See.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Report this

  • Cobbnaustic

    This piece of trash need to me removed, It has nothing to do with unity and it is on city property which would require a permit to be legal. It used to have a BLM sign on it. Notice all the political signs laying around it, Need I say more. I live in Boston harbor and have to look at this eye sore every day. City of Olympia do your jobs and remove this disgrace. If i cant build on this property they shouldn't be able to either.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Report this

  • Cobbnaustic

    Please excuse my cell phone brevity....... I cant edit it.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Report this