Artist Perri Lynch is in the midst of creating a free-standing stone and glass sculpture for the new Fire Station 21 that will incorporate LED lights that will change color when the firefighters are called out on an emergency.
Lynch says the stones and glass sections are layered to show the relationship between stability and fragility when a crisis occurs. The glass will be illuminated with blue/green LEDs, which will change to red/orange when the station alarm system is triggered.
Photo courtesy of Perri Lynch.
The sculpture is held through the middle by a six-inch galvanized steel pipe that’s about 14 feet tall. It’s located on the southwest corner of the site at 7304 Greenwood Ave. N.
Lynch, who used to live in the neighborhood, will begin installing the piece on that pipe next Monday, weather permitting, and hopes to finish by the end of the week. This is her second piece of art for a local fire station; the first is currently being installed in Issaquah. (Note 8-29-11: Installation is delayed about two weeks due to additional site prep work.)
Photo courtesy of Perri Lynch.
She spent a full daytime shift with firefighters at Station 21, going out on emergency calls, to help her create art that represented what firefighters go through every day.
“It was such an eye-opener to me. The strongest impression I had was how many hours of preparation it takes to roll out so fast,” she said. “To respond in a split second.”
She also was amazed at the almost rock star status that the Defenders of Greenwood enjoy.
“It’s very unusual for a neighborhood to have such a close relationship to their firefighters,” she said. “I hope that the piece…kind of reinforces the connection that the community already has with the station. I hope it also provides a beacon of safety.”
Artist Perri Lynch with a drawing of her stone and glass sculpture for Fire Station 21. Photo by Gary Burkhardt.
Some of the stones lower down will be perfect for children to sit on, and she hopes that people walking by will take the time to see a different perspective of the artwork every time. For her, Lynch said the work represents the interruption of the daily flow of life.
“For responders it’s the flow of their work, but for people in crisis it’s a total interruption of their lives,” she explained. “Fire in itself is a provocative medium, in terms of being one of the essential elements, but also one of these things that warms us, but also brings crisis to our lives. I love the multi-faceted aspect of fire.”
She’s also honored to have been chosen to create the art for Fire Station 21.
“It’s a humbling thing,” she said. “I’m really honored by the opportunity to have the artwork in your community.”
24 responses so far ↓
1 Jessie // Aug 25, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Nice sculpture, but how much is it costing taxpayers?
2 PhinneyRidgian // Aug 25, 2011 at 2:58 pm
We voted for the levy to repair/replace the fire stations several years ago. The money is coming from that.
3 Mike Perry // Aug 25, 2011 at 5:35 pm
I wondered what that pole was for. I thought it might be the flag pole, but walking by today I saw them installing a flag pole that’s attached to the building itself.
Those LEDs are likely to prove a maintenance headache, but if kids can sit on the big rock the art itself could prove worthwhile. It’s certainly better than the ‘don’t touch’ rusty metal that many contemporary artists are using for outdoor sculpture.
The real question is why Seattle continues to vote for levies like the one that funded this. At a time when spending for community necessities is being cut, we tear down a perfectly functional fire station that fit our neighborhood well and was newer than perhaps 90% of our homes. And what do we replace it with? This tacky metal and glass box.
Ninety years ago, the ugliness of Bauhaus buildings at least stimulated shock and outrage. Now there’s so many of them around, they’ve become the architectural equivalent of road litter. They manage to be both ugly and boring.
You might want to feel sorry for our fire fighters. In my experience, these buildings are as miserable inside as they are ugly outside. All that SW-facing glass, unshaded by a roof, is going make the building miserably hot on summer afternoons, that is, unless our city spends a hefty sum air-conditioning it.
As the book From Bauhaus to Our House notes, the German architects who founded the movement deliberately set out to discard all that we’d learned about making buildings both attractive and comfortable.
Traditionally, building have included appealing decor on the outside, along with natural materials like wood and stone. Bauhaus uses concrete and metal. Traditionally, there’s a slanted roof to shed rain and shade the sides of the building. Bauhaus has a flat roof and no shading for windows. Trying to be ‘different’ they ended up doing almost everything wrong.
Devoid of either beauty or functionality–why did we waste money on this ‘thing.’ It’d have made more sense to build a ridge top playground for our kids and perhaps include a pool that could serve for wading in the summer and trikes or skating in the other seasons.
4 PhinneyRidgian // Aug 25, 2011 at 7:07 pm
It’s my understanding that the main reason for the rebuild was that the structure was very old and very small. There really wasn’t enough room for the number of firefighters that need to be at the station at any given time.
Not only was the economy in better shape when the levy was voted on, I can’t really begrudge something that will make it easier for the people that put themselves on the line for us.
Since no one has been inside it yet, no one can really say whether or not it has functionality. The firefighters had input into the design, so I’d assume that it suits their needs.
I’d certainly rather spend money on this than another library levy that builds new buildings that have to be closed due to lack of funds, a car tab fee that covers the same ground as the “Bridging the Gap” levy that we’re paying on for 5 more years, or huge school levies that have no clear plan laid out as to where the money goes.
5 Tahomajim // Aug 25, 2011 at 9:04 pm
I might be in the minority with some neighbors….
I like the sculpture…. I like the idea…. I doubt it was overly expensive.
I think it’s clever and I’m partial to clever people.
6 sezdog // Aug 25, 2011 at 10:42 pm
I think it sounds interesting! Can’t wait to see it. I’m with you, Tahomajim. It’s clever and I like clever people.
7 PhinneyRidgian // Aug 25, 2011 at 10:48 pm
I like it too, and it will serve to remind us when they’re out on a call.
8 Greenwood // Aug 26, 2011 at 12:33 am
Sounds awesome! Can’t wait to see this for years to come! Thanks for all the hard work and careful thought on this new part of the neighborhood.
9 WeNeedABakery. Yes we still do. // Aug 26, 2011 at 12:43 am
I like it too. No grumpiness here.
By the way, Greenwood needs a good bakery.
10 Tahomajim // Aug 26, 2011 at 3:15 am
Well, this is a bit off subject……. Phinney/Greenwood needs a good bakery….. near the fire station sculpture…. how’s that?
11 Janet // Aug 26, 2011 at 7:33 am
I like the sculpture too, but I would also like to know how much it costs.
I don’t have any problem with building a new fire station, but I am curious about how much of the cost is for this sculpture.
12 L. Ferguson // Aug 26, 2011 at 8:09 am
It is a sign of health in a community when artists are valued. Having art is like having a fruit tree that blooms. It may not appear to be important in and of itself, but the fruit comes later. Art inspires, brings joy, creates thought and curiosity. Art is a way for the mind to play. Art is joyful and indicates a healthy society that is not all about simple survival.
The pennies spent on a project like this brings honor to your community.
I think the question should be “why doesn’t our culture spend more money on art and less money on taxes that fund war and _________(fill in the blank.)”
Interesting work, intense use of materials, thoughtful design. Can’t wait to see the finished piece Ms. Lynch!
13 Nancy Folsom // Aug 26, 2011 at 8:19 am
As with all your pieces, Perri, it looks great. We (in the Seattle area) are fortunate to have a local artist of your caliber and growing renown. I still hope my neighborhood will someday manage to commission a piece from you.
14 Phil Jones // Aug 26, 2011 at 8:45 am
I, too, am excited to see the station, with sculpture, finished! And for MP: “Hey kid! Get off my lawn!”.
15 Janet // Aug 26, 2011 at 10:56 am
Based on the avoidance of answering the question, I suspect that “The pennies spent on a project like this…” is a bit of an understatement.
16 Greenwood // Aug 26, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Janet. Who gives a SH!T? Get a life.
17 tahomajim // Aug 26, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Janet,
Nobody is avoiding the question, I doubt none of us neighbors know the cost. PW.com should have asked the question…. alas….
Given city budgets these days I suspect the sculpture costs less then a million dollars and will look like a million dollars.
Shall we make this thread interesting?
Everybody, how much do you think the sculpture costs? My guess is $26,000.
18 Ruby // Aug 27, 2011 at 11:37 am
We nearly lost this station altogether some years ago. I don’t recall how it came to be saved but I’ve been grateful ever since that it and the firefighters are there for us. And, now that the landscaping’s in, and the doors are painted, and we’ve got some new artwork, I’m even beginning to like the looks of it.
19 Ruby // Aug 27, 2011 at 11:48 am
Oh, one more thing: I still think the firefighters’ pole belongs in that front window.
20 sezdog // Aug 27, 2011 at 11:48 am
I imagine the money for the sculpture is separate from the money for the building. I think one of the things that makes cities interesting is their public art. It speaks to their character, may mark an aspect of history, makes a statement about belief/thought/feeling. To me, this piece in part represents a post 9/11 world where we are much more aware of the role of 1st responders.
And if you want a purely financial reason for public art—it attracts tourists to the neighborhood.
21 strumpet22 // Aug 27, 2011 at 5:18 pm
If I’m not mistaken, the art piece would fall under the percent-for-art ordinance of 1973. (http://www.seattle.gov/arts/publicart/default.asp)
So, if it’s related to this ordinance which I think it is, the installation cost 1% of the entire project.
I think it’s a great piece. I can’t wait to see it installed.
22 Julie // Aug 28, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Janet, From the discussion over on the forums, here is the link to every bit of financial info you could ever want to know about the new fire station:
http://www.seattle.gov/fleetsfacilities/firelevy/pdfs/LevyFinancialUpdate.pdf
Mike, the old station didn’t hold the bigger rigs. The new building in LEED certified so I am sure they have taken all the environmental issues like cooling, warming and rain run-off into consideration. Read the report.
23 Judith Wood // Aug 29, 2011 at 7:14 am
I, for one, am proud to live in a city where we spend a percentage of every publicly-funded (that’s you and me!) construction project on art. Our quality of life (and those of the artists it supports) are all the better for it.
24 suzy denison // Nov 6, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Ditto Judith Wood – more funding for art!
It enhances the neighborhood. Kids stop to
look at it. Great sculpture. Bravo to all
concerned.
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