Rainier Valley Haiku - Roger Shimomura
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Art along the Link light rail Martin Luther King Jr. Way corridor each started with the idea of creating a Culture Conversation. These works create a dialog about what it means to live in America in the 21st Century. Is it a melting pot or tossed salad? Is one status preferable over another? Renowned artist Roger Shimomura has created a sculpture of everyday items stacked into a totem shape that explores these themes. Sound Transit was pleased to unveil this artwork in May 2008, at the same time that Roger was recognized for his career of exploring racial themes as a recipient of the International Examiner's 2008 Community Voice Award.
On the base of the sculpture are four writers' responses in the form of Haiku to the questions posed by Shimomura:
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The community is also invited to offer a response or to simply voice their culture; soon, selected Haiku submitted to Sound Transit will be installed on the wall just behind Shimomura's sculpture.
Stormwater Project - Brian Goldbloom
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Inspired by stonework included in Japan's Osaka Castle, the artist designed eight granite stormwater catchbasins that are integrated both physically and visually into the station; granite boulders and carved benches run the adorn the trackway and provide seating the passenger waiting areas.
Each catchbasin that flanks the ends of the station shelters include a unique design of channels seemingly carved out by the rain water traveling from the shelter's roof to the planters below. Integrated into the artwork are "found objects," possibly left behind by other passengers - a sandwich, cell phone, a pair of take-out chopsticks.
Come Dance with Me - Augusta Asberry
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Eight stylized African ladies of cut steel dance in the landscape at the corner of MLK Way and Othello St. These lyrical and flowing figures grew out of the artist's passion for dress designing coupled with an interest in African art. The intricate design invites viewer to linger, feel the movement of the dancers, and to listen for the silent beat guiding the flow of their motion.
For more information on this or any other STart project, please contact:
Jennifer Babuca
Art Program Coordinator
Phone:206-398-5120
jennifer.babuca@soundtransit.org
