Public Art
"A Century of Dairying in Issaquah"
Artist: Larry Kangas
Location: Darigold, 611 Front Street N
Darigold's large exterior wall was painted with the mural to commemorate Issaquah's dairying heritage. The mural prominently depicts the creamery as it originally appeared, as well as the Pickering family's dairy barn and farm. Photo: Leroy LaCelle
"And Mithra Danced"
Artist: James Kelsey
Location: Cornick Park, 335 Front Street S
Artist James Kelsey chose the title of the stainless steel and bronze work because it was completed on the winter solstice. In Mesopotamian mythology, Mithra was the sun god and was reborn on the first day of winter each year. Kelsey prefers to work in abstract forms because they have the ability to create images and stories that are unique to each individual viewer. Photo: Leroy LaCelle
"Copper Clad"
Artist: Jason Dillon
Location: 232 Front Street N, near Hailstone Feed Store
The life-size horse stands approximately 7 feet tall, weighs 1 ton and is made entirely of old metal parts. Artist Jason Dillon is a 2002 graduate of Eastlake High School. Photo: Leroy LaCelle
"Forest Carvings"
Artist: Steve Jensen
Location: 135 E Sunset Way, near Council Chambers
"Forest Carvings," which is comprised of three carved cedar poles, pays homage to the naturally felled wood. Artist Steve Jensen, who comes from a long tradition of Norwegian fisherman and boat builders, uses chisels that were passed down from his grandfather. The craftsmanship of the work speaks to the universality and timelessness of carving.
"Harvey Manning"
Artists: Sara Johani and Tom Jay
Location: 110 SE Bush Street, near Issaquah Trails Center
The late Harvey Manning was a local preservationist, conservationist, and noted author of hiking and trail guides. He played an important role in the preservation of the North Cascades National Park, Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Manning was also an early advocate of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. The memorial statue, which was commissioned by the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, sits on several boulders that were excavated from Manning's property on Cougar Mountain.
"Linda Ruehle Bench"
Artist: Richard Beyer
Location: 135 E Sunset Way, outside Council Chambers
The sculpture is a life-size tribute to former City Clerk Linda Ruehle, who retired in 2001 after 30 years of service to the City and community. Artist Richard Beyer is best known as the creator of the beloved sculpture "Waiting for the Interurban" in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.
"Mill Street Logging Scene"
Artist: Larry Kangas
Location: East Sunset Way at First Avenue Southeast
The mural depicts Issaquah's logging industry from 1900 to 1940, when old-growth cedar and fir logs were cut from the surrounding mountains and milled in the town's many lumber mills. Before 1960, Sunset Way was named Mill Street, referring to the mills located on either end of the street when the town was incorporated in 1892. The mural was sponsored by the Issaquah Arts Commission, Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Issaquah Plaza, Issaquah History Museums, Downtown Issaquah Association, Front Street Market and Ben Franklin.
"Miracle Grow"
Artist: Leon White
Location: Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 73, 1280 N.E. Park Drive
"Miracle Grow" consists of four individual powdered coated steel sculptures, ranging in height from 8 feet to 14 feet. Artist Leon White was inspired to create "Miracle Grow" by observing the plants in his garden, especially the long leaves of the iris.
"Pinnacle"
Artist: Brandon Zebold
Location: 110 SE Bush Street, near Issaquah Trails Center
Artist Brandon Zebold has had a passion for drawing since childhood — and, of all the media he explored, he feels steel offers the most exciting range of shapes and surfaces on which to draw. In an effort to capture the organic, free-associative tapestry of his drawings, Zebold began cutting them into and out of rugged-yet-yielding steel. The process of rendering the steel drawings became a natural springboard into sculpture.
"Reaching Home"
Artist: Thomas Jay
Location: Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, 125 W Sunset Way
"Reaching Home" includes a bronze-and-cement, 8-foot-by-2-foot male coho salmon named Finley, accompanied by a 7-foot long, bronze female coho salmon named Gilda. The statues serve as artwork, an educational display and a donation receptacle for Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. Photo: Leroy LaCelle
"River Run"
Artist: Craig Breitbach
Location: Issaquah Senior Center, 75 NE Creek Way
Born and raised in Port Angeles, artist Craig Breitbach's sculptures are generally realistic images of salmon, combining his love of art with his passion for fishing and nature. He works in many different stone types, but prefers basalt (as in "River Run") for larger pieces because of its contrasting textures.
"Shadowmaker"
Artist: Michael Sweeney
Location: Central Park, 1907 NE Park Drive
"Shadowmaker," a kinetic sculpture installed on the traffic island within Central Park, establishes a focal point for the park. As the viewer approaches the sculpture, the rectangular opening of the piece provides a framed vista, drawing the eye through the sculpture to the view beyond. The base is designed in a circular format that bolts to an industrial-sized bearing system that functions as a kind of Lazy Susan.
"Solace"
Artist: Perri Howard
Location: Eastside Fire and Rescue Station 72, 1575 NW Maple Street
"Solace" is a solar-powered artwork designed for Issaquah's LEED Platinum-certified Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 72. Designed around the theme of order and chaos, the work is constructed of recycled eco-resin, in keeping with the green design of the building. "Solace" is lighted at night.
"The Blue Door"
Location: Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way
"The Blue Door" is a gift from Issaquah's sister city Chefchaouen, Morroco. Designed to look like doors built 200 years ago in northern Morocco, it symbolizes the friendship and hospitality between our two cities. In 2008, the work was unveiled and dedicated by then-Mayor Ava Frisinger and a delegation of visitors from Chefchaouen.
"The Couple"
Artist: Michael Dennis
Location: Squak Valley Park, 10319 Issaquah-Hobart Road SE
Carved from cedar, "The Couple" captures the essence of human gesture from a tree, using only the minimum definition required. Artist Michael Dennis intends that in one piece the viewer may see both human form and the form of the tree.
"The Dig"
Artist: Brian Goldbloom
Location: Front Street North at Northwest Dogwood Street
The first outdoor sculpture commissioned by the City of Issaquah, "The Dig" was chosen by the Issaquah Arts Commission to commemorate the City's 1992 centennial. The main piece of the sculpture, which resembles a mine entrance, is carved out of 15,000 pounds of gray granite taken from the Cascade Mountains. Symbolic imagery is carved into the stone, including a mine portal, salmon, railroad track, bits of riveted locomotive boilers and a railroad spike.
"The Pillars"
Artist: Will Robinson
Location: Issaquah Senior Center, 75 NE Creek Way
"The Pillars" consists of individually sculptured basalt monoliths. Varying textures integrate smooth and rough surfaces, creating intriguing duality in the stone. Artist Will Robinson encourages viewers to touch his work; engaging with the stone creates a connection between the medium, artist and viewer.
"The Valiant Effort"
Artist: Doug Eck
Location: Issaquah City Hall, 130 E Sunset Way
Artist Doug Eck created the one-and-a-half-times life-sized eagle and salmon to illustrate the struggle for survival in the wild. The bronze sculpture also was designed to illustrate the valiant effort of the Issaquah Police Department.
"Watershed Tower"
Artist: Larry Kangas
Location: Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, 125 W Sunset Way
Artist Larry Kangas designed the piece with suggestions from Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. The mural depicts salmon at different life stages, creatures eaten by salmon and creatures that prey on salmon.
"Zephyr"
Artist: Andrew Carson
Location: 110 SE Bush Street, near Issaquah Trails Center
"Zephyr" is a mixed metal and glass sculpture. The top is kinetic, moving with the wind and is Number 6 in a series of 10 sculptures. Artist Andrew Carson executes every step of the process, including design, engineering, prototyping, metal cutting, pounding and finishing, as well as glass and cement casting. There are no found parts in Carson's work; he designs and makes every piece, including the glass balls, hubs and the transitions.