Re: “Scuttling of my West Seattle sculpture could have been avoided” (Could 3, Opinion):
As a venerable defender of Seattle’s cultural legacies and artist rights, the Allied Arts Basis is gravely involved by the destiny of Don Fels’ sculpture “Paragon” positioned at Terminal 107 in 2003.
This sculpture, funded by the 1% for Artwork fund, Seattle Parks & Recreation funds, Port of Seattle funds and a Washington State Division of Pure Sources grant, has nice cultural resonance for a lot of communities traditionally inhabiting the Duwamish River, communities usually excluded from the cultural dialogue: Native People and dealing class communities.
Regardless of the artist’s repeated requests, the wooden portion of this sculpture, symbolizing a halibut schooner, was not maintained and is now deteriorated. Fels obtained fiscal, materials and logistical help to take away, restore and reinstall this work. The Seattle Workplace of Arts & Tradition’s response was to supply the artist a contract with full legal responsibility and no monetary help. Their lack of accountability is regarding for all art work within the metropolis of Seattle public artwork assortment.
Many artworks within the metropolis’s artwork assortment have been eliminated or broken with out cheap communication with the creating artists. We’re dropping publicly funded art work significant to native communities as a result of we’re failing to schedule and fund upkeep of this work.
Lydia Aldredge, president, Allied Arts Basis, Seattle
