HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts 2020-08-12 Agenda - Special Joint Meeting with Park CommissionCity of Tukwila
Parks & Recreation Department - Rick Still, Director
August 12, 2020 — 6:00-7:30pm
Parks Commission & Arts Commission
Joint Meeting
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+1 253-292-9750 United States, Tacoma (Toil)
Conference ID: 761 037 868#
ARTS COMMISSION
Position 1:
Jaleh Sadravi
Position 2:
Sheila Coppola, Chair
Position 3:
Pinky Estell
Position 4:
Trisha Gilmore, Vice Chair
Position 5:
Cynthia Chesak
Position 6:
Helen Enguerra
Position 7:
Shawn Belyea
Student Rep:
Dylan Mahler, Student Rep
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. introduction of Guests
3. Special Presentation:
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
PARKS COMMISSION
Position 1:
Position 2:
Position 3:
Position 4:
Position 5:
Position 6:
Position 7:
Student Rep:
AGENDA
Sean Albert
VACANT
Matthew Mega
Earnest Young
Don Scanlon
Scott Kruize, Chair
Ivan Cockrum, Vice Chair
VACANT
Riverton Creek Restoration Project Art - Sarah Kavage, Artist in Residence
4. P&R Department Updates
5. Adjournment
Upcoming Meetings
Arts Commission - August 26, 2020
For more information contact Tracy Gallaway at (206) 767-2305
Parks Commission — September 9, 2020
For more information contact Kris Kelly at (206) 433-7157
Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 - 206-433-1800 - Website: ►ukwilaWAgov
PROPOSAL FOR INTEGRATED, ECOLOGICAL PUBLIC ARTWORK
RIVERTON CREEK RESTORATION
TUKWILA, WA
Sarah Kavage, Artist in Residence for the Duwamish River
March 2020
This proposal integrates public, ecological art into the Riverton Creek restoration. The various
components are designed to
Highlight natural processes happening at the site
Perform ecological functions
Honor the water and the restoration of the watershed
- Inform trail users about the site, its history and ecology
These components work together to create an elegant, multi -sensory interpretation of the
site. Most of the project components are made of natural and living materials. Those materials
will change and grow and decay over time.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
1. Singing bridge
Proposal: Thread a series of bicycle bells onto the steel rod or cables running the length of
the bridge. The bells can be rung by people crossing the bridge.
Historically, bells have been used across the world to communicate over a distance, and as
symbols of peace, freedom, wisdom, clarity, and harmony. They can signal joyous
occasions or passages, commemorate events, focus the mind, and call communities
together. Bicycle bells in particular serve a safety or cautionary function, a musical way of
alerting others to one's presence on a crowded street. All of these uses and meanings —
both celebratory and cautionary - are relevant when positioned over the restored junction
of creek and river.
Using off -the -shelf bicycle bell parts will
be much less costly than a custom
manufactured design.
The bell in the image, a simple disc —�
design from a Danish company will either
be threaded onto one of the bridge's side
rails or onto a short rail fabricated for the
purpose. Multiple discs next placed to ,
each other can be knocked together by
passers by to produce chimes.
2. A REFUGE
Proposal: Large woody debris (LWD), AKA beach logs - are used in wetland restoration to
create shade and hiding places forjuvenile salmon and other fish. This proposal would use
carvings and natural colorant applied to a single piece of LWD at the mouth of the creek,
to highlight the changes in the tide.
The colorant process, known as ebonizing, is a natural chemical reaction that happens
when wood is soaked with a solution of vinegar and steel (steel wool, old nails, etc). The
solution reacts with the tannins in the wood to turn the wood a deep black.' For low -
tannin (soft) woods, a "tea" of Quebracho bark powder (from a South American tree,
commonly used in traditional leather tanning) is applied first to boost the tannin content.
The black color will stand out against the other components of the landscape,
complementing them without being overpowering. Once the tree is ebonized, it can be
carved and then set in place. The carved cuts will need to be deeper than the ebonized
part to highlight the natural color of the wood.
Because it is a chemical reaction, once applied and dry, the ebonizing is long lasting and
not water soluble.
test of ebonized wood with carved sections
lhttps://www.poopularwoodworking.com/techniques/ebonizin wood/
PROPOSED ECOLOGICAL PUBLIC ART
AS PART OF RIVERTON CREEK RESTORATION:
LARGE WOODY DEBRIS CARVING
MARKING THE TIDE
SARAH KAVAGE
DUWAMISH RIVER A.I.R.
JULY 2019
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3. Interpretive murals
Proposal: Create murals along the concrete retaining walls that interpret the site and create
visual cohesion between the natural and built elements of the restoration. Images and
language can intertwine to create a lively presentation of historical and ecological
information. Using a single color- black- on the concrete, the murals will complement the
natural setting rather than compete with it, and call attention to the ebonized wood element
in the water.
I will be working with community members to generate the words and imagery that will be
incorporated into the mural. The text will be multi-lingual, highlighting the fact that all
cultures care about the environment. Rivers are a part of the landscape all over the world, and
that is reflected in many cultures'songs, poetry, stories, etc. In a place as diverse as Tukwila,
creating space for Inclusive cultural expression is essential.
4. Living willow viewpoints
Proposal: As part of the project, "spot" restoration is planned along the riverbank between
the TIB and Marginal Way bridges. Invasive plants will be removed and natives will be
planted. Living willow sculptures can be planted as part of the restoration to frame
viewpoints of the river.
Because of its flexibility, connection to riparian habitats and ecosystem function, and fast
growth, willow is a longtime favorite for "living sculpture." It is commonly used in stream
restoration and serves multiple ecological functions. In addition to uptaking pollution,
willow can be used to create berms, retain banks, slow runoff, and for flood control.
Live willow stakes can be purchased or grown from cuttings. Two-year old willow boughs
are generally used for posts or larger diameter support structures, while one-year old
willow is smaller, more flexible and used for more ornamental, "fill-in" forms. It may also be
necessary, depending on the design, to use sturdier materials (wood or metal) as
armatures.
PROPOSED ECOLOGICAL PUBLIC ART
AS PART OF RIVERTON CREEK RESTORATION:
LIVING WILLOW RIVER ACCESS POINTS
ALONG DUWAMISH RIVER
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PROPOSED ECOLOGICAL PUBLIC ART
AS PART OF RIVERTON CREEK RESTORATION:
LIVING WILLOW COLUMNS
ALONG DUWAMISH RIVER
SARAH KAVAGE
DUWAMISH RIVER A.I.R.
JULY 2019 . ......
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