Public Works in the Seattle Municipal Tower and Beyond

Yesterday I performed the rare part of dutiful citizen by appeasing the Capitol Hill parking gods with a zone permit. You see, they've been unusually gracious, letting me park all day on the street for the last two months without repercussion. I didn't want to anger them so I walked down to the Seattle Municipal Tower to show my gratitude for their kindness.

Once in the elevator, I accidentally pushed button 33 rather than 37 and smiled politely at my neighbors. (subways and elevators are the same - don't make eye contact, assume a friendly but streetwise stance) The doors opened, and surprise! On the wall across the way hung four works by Margie Livingston, hovering like celestial monoliths. What else does one do in this situation? Shove an arm across the door to take a snapshot of the hallway of course, ignoring the transgression upon my wide-eyed neighbors. Again I smiled, but it was less convincing - this being Seattle they no longer found me friendly.

I wanted to tell them that transit is always inconvenient and they should be goddamned happy there's public art for them to enjoy along the way. I wanted to hold the door while they poured out to view her translucent paintings of rooms filled with light and string. I wanted them to stop and enjoy the world outside the elevator, outside the cubicle, outside the tower to see that beauty often hides in the open. That's a tall order, I understand.

I know a small but loud group of the population complain the public art they see is somehow beneath them, not good enough, vulgar, unapproachable, or an otherwise wasteful expense of tax dollars. Before you say that, think hard about where the larger percentage of your tax dollars go and tell me you aren't glad any part of it goes towards something more sustainable, enlightening, and important to our society and culture than our larger, more sinister contributions.

So I'm motivated to act. I demand you pack your lunch to go and walk over to the Municipal Tower to look at the art before the show ends on the 31st. And once that's over, I demand that you do your research and go find all the art that is just waiting to be discovered all over this small but abundant city. We have all these gifts, and a very tiny portion of your tax dollars fund these gifts, so the best way to say thanks and appreciate them is to find them.

By the way, I hadn't recalled anyone writing about this until I came across Adriana Grant's awesome article from February while looking for titles to Margie's works; and I also stumbled across Gayle Clemans' review in the Times. If there are more articles about our rotating public exhibitions, leave a comment and a link!

Northwest Emerging Artists, Seattle City Light Portable Works: Part 2 is on view at the Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery, 700 5th Avenue @ Cherry, through Dec. 31. While you are there, I highly recommend elevator-hopping to see the other works on view in various tax funded hallways throughout the building.

Excerpt from the main page: Seattle City Light's Portable Works Collection is exhibited throughout City Light's offices, engaging both employees and the public and creating an interesting and diverse work environment. The purchase was made possible with city 1% for Art funds.

A much more professional shot of the hallway, courtesy of Margie Livingston

My sudden snapshot of works by Margie Livingston
Daylight with Yellow and Red Gels, Best Sunny Day, Daylight with White Spot, Dark with Blue Spot
33rd Floor, Seattle Municipal Tower