Since the opening of the newly remodeled Burien Community Center in May, artwork by local artists has graced the walls of the large lobby.

To see these fine works of art, you are encouraged to stop by the Community Center (at the “old” library building at 14700 6th Ave SW) to see two-dimensional artwork by “Artist United” artists like:

• Judy Eckhart
• Thomas Parker
• Janet Price
• Allen Matsumoto
• Judy Olson
• Gunter Winkelmann
• Carol Williams
• Carla Michaels
• Nancy Bogni
• Chris Gonvers
• Don Zimmerman
• Harry Langen
• Dori Westphal
• Victor Kimsey
• Lou Ellen Huff
• Alina Gridley
• Elissa Stern
• Marianne Harlor
• Carole Shankland
• Nancy Fulton

The Artist United exhibit will be up until Monday, Aug. 30th.

Also displayed in the lobby is artwork from students in the Moshier Art Center’s Art Escape program and Kent Parks Creative Artspace program. These adult students with disAbilities have created beautiful painting and drawings, as well as a very large fabric sun that is gracing the walls.

Here are a few examples – click on each to see larger images:

"Out of the Past" by Dori Westphal.

"On the Road Again" by Judy Eckhardt.

"Painted Bird" by Elissa Stern.

Bronze sculpture by Tom Jay, measuring 80″ high x 9″ in diameter.

Taken from my home the other day, which is located near Arbor Lake and the old Puget Sound Jr. High (aka Puget Sound Park).

Here’s a pic of it – have you seen this?:

If you know the whereabouts of this distinctive-yet-missing sculpture, please email Phillip Levine ASAP at:

levinepr@comcast.net

We’ll be there, safely ensconced in our tent (we’ll save room for you), wearing our B-Town Blog-branded clothing and risking our lives by using live electricity to showcase and demonstrate our website right there on an LCD monitor.

The market won’t start up again until Spring of 2010, so we hope to see y’all there!

To inspire you to attend, here’s some original artwork by our own Danielle Burton, called “$2 a bunch”:

Thursday (July 2nd), we received the following email from a BTB Reader named Jessica, inquiring about the 1972 George Tsutakawa fountain at the new library, which has been recently removed:

Hello,

Yesterday I visited the beautiful new Burien library and noticed the fountain in front was missing. I know it made it in the move as I had previously saw it at the new location.

When I asked one of the librarians what had happened to the sculpture she said it is currently in storage but was unsure as to why.

With the community so boisterous about one particular bronze sculpture I can’t imagine why they are not up in arms to protect the lovely G rated George Tsutakawa Fountain.

Is there not enough room in Burien for more than one sculpture?

Or perhaps someone complained about the environmental impact of the base of the sculpture being too small and thus causing a small amount of water to be wasted.

I thought if anyone could get to the bottom of this it would be the B-Town Blog.

Thank you,
Jessica

So we contacted our “Empress Of Information,” Marilee Cogswell, Manager of the Burien branch, who said:

Yes, it has been removed temporarily – we are looking at alternative sites for it as it was getting a bit too much attention (trash, coins, and climbing) in that space.

It was decided to pull it out and store it before any real damage happened.

We are looking at a couple of alternatives..one inside the building and one outside.

I don’t have a timeline, but will keep you posted.

George Tsutakawa's "Rain Fountain No. 2" used to be inside a protected courtyard.

The original installation of this fountain was in an inner courtyard of the old library, which was protected from human interaction.

The new location was not, hence the concerns and subsequent removal.

When we took the photos early Thursday evening three young boys were playing around in the fountain’s base, empty of everything but rocks.

“I think they moved it ‘cuz kids were playing on it,” said one young man who was literally inside the base when asked what happened. Moments later, he found a coin from under some rocks.

Here’s some info on Tsutakawa from the website Art Market Online:

George Tsutakawa dedicated his life to art and the freedom of expression that it granted him. Tsutakawa worked in a number of media, including paint, bronze, and clay. Born in Seattle in 1910, Tsutakawa went to live with his maternal grandmother in Japan from 1917 to 1927. Upon Tsutakawa’s return to Seattle, he began to study art and help with the family import/export business. His time spent in Japan as a child – especially the traditional tea ceremonies performed by his uncle – inform his work, as did the beauty of the Pacific Northwest region and the art of the Northwest Masters. Tsutakawa attended the University of Washington, and received his MFA in 1950.

In 1960 the City of Seattle commissioned George Tsutakawa to create Fountain of Wisdom, for the Seattle Library; this project was the first art commission by the city of Seattle since 1908. Between 1960 and 1990, the artist designed and created over 60 fountains throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan. He exhibited extensively throughout Japan, the United States and Canada beginning in the 1950’s. Tsutakawa was awarded many honors throughout his career including the Order of Rising Sun Award, fourth class, from the Emperor of Japan.

In 1972, “Rain Fountain No.2,” made of stainless steel, 6′, was installed at the (old) Burien Library on 4th Ave SW.

We’ll keep you posted as this story develops, so check back often. You can also subscribe to our free RSS Feed here, or get the blog via email here.

In preparation for Saturday afternoon’s official unveiling, numerous pieces of art and sculptures were installed Thursday afternoon (Jan. 22) at the Burien/ Interim Art Space (B/ IAS), located on the southeast corner of the Burien Town Square on SW 150th.

B/ IAS is a year-long experiment to showcase art and serve as a community gathering place, and artists and volunteers have been digging footings and assembling sculptures while cranes have been lifting sculptures into place.

Described as a “artist P-patch”, B/ IAS represents a creative solution to a common problem caused by the current stalled development industry. The one-acre parcel of land, to be developed into condominiums by Urban Partners, would have sat empty for at least a year until construction on the company’s delayed project resumed, if not for the vision of Burien Arts Commissioners Dane Johnson and Kathy Justin and a number of community partners coming together to make it happen.

Urban Partners has donated the lease of the space. GGLO, the firm who designed Burien Town Square where B/IAS is located, contributed to the project by hosting a design charrette to explore how to turn the former asphalt parking lot into a dynamic space that engages people. Other partners include Ignition Northwest, the City of Burien and 4Culture as well as numerous community volunteers.

At the center of the interim art space will be a dramatic 30-foot-high sculpture called The Passage. Originally debuted at the Burning Man Arts Festival in 2005, the sculpture depicts a mother and child walking together “to share and explore life.” Created by Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito, the dramatic figures are fabricated out of recycled and scrap metal, as seen in this photo taken when the piece first arrived on Jan. 20th – check out the dreadlock hair made of re-used chains:

Other sculptures installed Thursday include:

• The Fire-Pod, an 11-foot-high steel sculpture with six claw-like tendrils and 12 firing points that shoot out flames (that also debuted at Burning Man).
• Synapse Naust, a 16-foot-high fire cauldron designed by Charlie Smith, Jamie Ladet and a group of Seattle artists, into which you can toss logs and the burning fire illuminates the detailed patterns cut into the sides of the structure.
• Tree Spire, a 15′ tall tree with a circular bench around the base of the tree created by the Iron Monkeys.
• The Nemata, a hollow-formed bronze sculpture.

WHAT: The Passage along with the Fire-Pod and Synapse Naust will be set ablaze amidst a festive community celebration; community leaders, art enthusiasts and Burien neighbors will gather to listen to the music of local musicians and watch as the burning sculptures are lit.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 24, beginning at 3pm at the Burien Town Square offices, then moving to the outdoor space at 4pm.

WHERE: B/ IAS space, which is located on SW 150th, across from Staples (map below).

COST: FREE

For more information, visit the B/ IASwebsite here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• PHOTOS: “The Passage” Makes Safe Passage To Burien
• Daily Journal Of Commerce Digs Burien’s Interim Art Space
• Ground Broken For Town Square Sculpture “The Passage”
• UPDATE:”The Passage” Installation Postponed To Jan. 24th
• VIDEO:Impressive Sculpture Coming To Burien Town Square

View Larger Map

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s more info on this project:

The Burien/ Interim Art Space is a year-long experiment, combining and transforming the concepts of art, temporary green spaces, and community gathering. The Interim Art Space at Burien’s Town Square will be kicked off by displaying Buriens first major temporary art piece, The Passage, a sculpture depicting a mother and child walking together to share and explore life.

This artwork was first created by Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito for the 2005 Burning Man Arts Festival in the Nevada desert. The figures stand a dramatic 30 and 20 feet tall and are fabricated out of recycled and scrap metal. The interim art space will occupy a temporarily vacant one-acre parcel of Buriens Town Square project. This exciting space will not only showcase art but will be an energetic gathering place for Buriens citizens.

B/IAS will be a working canvas that will be transformed by the efforts of both artists and the community throughout the year. The art space will celebrate its opening in December of 2008 with the installation of The Passage. The project will conclude when the sculpture is removed and construction begins at the site on a future phase of Town Square.

B/IAS is a collaboration between the City of Burien Arts Commission, Urban Partners, GGLO and Ignition NW. For more information please contact Gina Kallman, City of Burien Cultural Arts Supervisor, (206) 988-3713, ginak@burienwa.gov.

So…whaddaya think of this sculpture?

And do you have any ideas for what else should go in the “Interim Art Space” at Burien Town Square?

Email us or post a Comment below…

A Glaze Intensive with Mark Strom: use wax resist, overglazes, stains and other surface treatments in this 2-day workshop.

Learn how to integrate your forms with your surfaces, and make glazing as much fun as the rest of the process!

Most supplies provided.

Fee:  $125.00

Ages 15- Adult

Saturday, October 18th and Saturday, November 8th, 10:00-4:00 PM

For more information or to register:  206-988-3700 OR www.burienparks.net

His artwork will be on display in the Lower Gallery of the Burien Arts Gallery starting Friday night Aug. 8th and continuing through Sept. 28th.

An opening reception will be held Friday night from 7-9pm at the Gallery, which is located in Dottie Harper Park, located at 421 SW 146th Street.

UPDATE (8/8/08): We just learned from Chris’ mother that his artwork will also be on display at Highline Community Hospital’s Gift Shop, starting in September.

Mr. Stiles, 40, can often be seen jogging around the area with his Mother, Julie, and sometimes his sister and her baby, along with numerous dogs, including two rescue greyhounds.

Julie, his Mother, has worked hard on keeping Chris focused, whether it be through running seven miles almost every day of the year or making sure he finishes his often-amazing artwork.

Recently, their work paid off when Chris won “Best In Show” at this year’s Normandy Park Arts Festival for his work “Matterhorn”:

Here’s an exclusive video preview of some of Mr. Stiles work, most of which will be on exhibit at the gallery:

Click here to view the embedded video.

More of Chris Stiles artwork can be seen, as well as purchased, at his website.

View Larger Map

[click on the art to go to the next page]

Click here to view the embedded video.

So…whaddaya think?

Leave your comments below…

Link to large Flash file here.