Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 26

Photo by:  Cherri

This is the last of the boxes I have found.  The last four are in the Sodo Neighborhood, and the first 22 are in the West Edge neighborhood.  All but one were designed by Todd Lown and Jesse Brown.  

Tomorrow I will add a map of these boxes and the information I have gathered about these two artists.  I will also try to contact Todd on his blog and report back whatever new stuff I can discern.  If anyone has anything to contribute about these boxes or these artists, please fill free to add a comment.

Also, if you wish to view all the Painted boxes in one place, I have shared a folder at the following link:    https://plus.google.com/photos/105525107077876984484/albums/5801818673517774209

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 25

Photo by:  Cherri

Some of these traffic control boxes are dirty and in need of cleaning.  However, some of them have also been hit with graffiti.  That really makes me mad.   How disrespectful of the the artist who took the time to paint these treasures, just for the public's pleasure.  Here's my plea, "Go tag your own walls!"

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 24

Photo by:  Cherri

This one was not painted by Todd Lown and Jesse Brown.  It has a signature on the side that reads A. Swanson.

It is located in front of McDonald's in the Sodo Neighborhood.  That is my "pit stop" when I pick Bruce up from work, where I empty my tank and refill it with another diet coke!

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 23

Photo by:  Cherri

This is a larger traffic control box than the ones in the West Edge neighborhood.  It also was designed by Jesse Brown, not Town Lown, but the are still both credited with painting it.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 22

Photo by:  Cherri

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 21

Painted by:  Cherri

Nice to know people my age are part of Seattle's culture, too

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 20

Photo by:  Cherri

Are there still Bellhops at hotels?  Certainly not ones dressed so cutely.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 19

Photo by:  Cherri

These boxes are placed on a poured concrete base.  This one was on reasonably level ground, but many of them are are on steep slants, due to the hills in Seattle.  It adds to the challenge of squaring up these photographs. 

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 18

Photo by:  Cherri

Could this be the same little boy as the one on 1st and Pike, riding a bicycle, this just a little younger version?  Could he be the artist's son?  Hopefully, someone out there can answer that.

Note that this one was designed by Jesse Brown and Painted by Jesse and Todd Lown, not the other way around.

I have about five more traffic boxes to post.  Then I will post a blog with what I know about the artists.  The last piece of this series will be a map of the locations of these boxes.  If I run across more at a later date, I will update the blogs.

If you wish to see all the painted traffic boxes in one place, I have created a picture folder at the following link:   https://plus.google.com/photos/105525107077876984484/albums/5801818673517774209

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 17

This was another box that was very hard to photograph.  There is a newspaper stand right next to the left (north) side.  Photoshop did its wonders, again.

I am sorry that the numbering for these boxes doesn't follow the streets, up one, then down the other.  They were photographed when I could grab them, considering my timing, available parking and the traffic.  It was such a great help to have Bruce act as chauffer on Sunday.

Seattle's Pike Place Market

Photo by:  Cherri

This is the entrance to the farmer's market at Pike Place.  It is usually clogged with sightseers and is an internationally known farmer's market.  One of the highlight for tourists is the fish market where your fish is tossed to you across the counter after your purchase.  This tradition is always good for a show.

This view is from 1st St looking west down Pike Street.  I will cover the Pike Place Market in a later blog in more depth.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 16

Photo by:  Cherri

This box is located on 1st just one block south of the main entrance to Pike Place Market.  This Farmer's Market runs several blocks underground and has at least 3 stories to the buildings. 

Represented in the above box are the street musicians, the numerous flower shops and the fish market, where your purchase is tossed to you across the counter.  I'll be sure to cover this Farmer's Market in a future blog.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 15

Photo by:  Cherri

I labeled this one "Four people on street,"  but I'm not sure it doesn't represent also going from daytime to nightlife.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 14

Photo by:  Cherri

It is a good thing for the miracle of photoshop.  I had a heck of time trying to photograph this one.  There was a car parked right next to the curb in front of it and a trash can against the south side (section 3).  I used the distort tool to bring the main panel back to square and I must say it came out just as it I'd photographed it square.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 13

Photo by:  Cherri

This one looks like the woman just received a "Dear John" letter.  Wonder what Todd Lown's true intent was.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 12

This is one of my favorites.  It is down on the south end of the West Edge Neighborhood.  On his blog, Todd Lown stated he had painted 26 of these boxes in this Neighborhood.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 11

Photo by:  Cherri

Do these women represent the cultural diversity of Seattle?  If anyone out there has more information about the artists or knows the actual title of the artworks, I would appreciate the information.  I don't feel like I am able to give them proper credit or am doing justice to their work.  The people of Seattle and the tourists that are enjoying these works of art deserve to celebrate the artists!

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 10

Photo by:  Cherri

I've added a description to the labels for these painted boxes to help identify which ones are on each corner.  I also will post a map of their locations when I complete the postings of the photos.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 9

Photo by:  Cherri

On Sunday, Bruce drove me around downtown Seattle so I could hop out and take as many photos of the boxes as I could find.  He suggested Sunday, due to lighter traffic and fewer buses running. 

I've done some more research on the artists and I will share that info as soon as I have the photos posted.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 8

Photo by:  Cherri

This painted traffic control box is actually on 2nd.  Number 7 is on Pike at 2nd.  I don't know why the signal at 2nd and Pike needs two control boxes.

Fremont Street Art - Waiting for the Interurban

Waiting for the Interurban

Waiting for the Interurban is a 1979 cast aluminum sculpture collection in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. It is located on the southeast corner of N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N., just east of the northern end of the Fremont Bridge. It consists of six people and a dog standing under a shelter and waiting for public transportation, specifically, the Seattle-Everett Interurban.  Actually, the six figures would have waited for a very long time, as the mock stop faces 34th, rather than Fremont Ave where the Interurban actually stopped.


The sculptor, Richard Beyer, included several subtleties in the sculpture which reward close viewing. There is also some gentle needling of a local Fremont political leader and pioneer in municipal recycling, Armen Napoleon Stepanian as he is reported to be the face of the dog. 

The statue has attracted the imagination, mischief and creativity of hundreds of neighbors each year. The Interurban is often dressed in weather appropriate gear and  has hosted costumes, displays and “art attacks” celebrating everything from weddings, birthdays, bon voyages, congratulations, I-love-you’s, memorials, good times and friendships to popular causes, and demonstrations. This continuous stream of interactive genius has made the Interurban Fremont’s most recognizable landmark and a symbol of the fun and creative energy for which the neighborhood has become famous.

In 2008 another sculpture was added just down the street. Known as Late for the Interurban, the statue portrays 1970's Seattle TV clown J.P. Patches and his sidekick Gertrude.  This statue has previously been posted to this blog, but it was mistakenly identified as just J.P. Patches, when its actual title is Late for the Interurban. This statue was created by Kevin Pettelle.  Please check out the posts about this outstanding artist, as well.
  
Richard Beyer was a prolific sculptor whose works are well known and widely exhibited. Sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council, Beyer’s intention was to make this a public artwork that could be utilized, photographed and enjoyed for any purpose. Richard lived in rural Pateros, in eastern Washington at the time of creation of this sculpture. He has since moved back to New York City and passed away in April 2012.

Seattle's Downtown Neighborhoods

Ever wondered what areas are included in the downtown neighborhoods?  Here's a map of the downtown area by neighborhood.  As I stated in a previous blog, I am going to concentrate on the West Edge Neighborhood in terms of photographing the Painted Traffic Control Boxes.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 8

Photo by:  Cherri

As promised, here is another of Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes.  this one is actually on Pike, not 2nd.  There is another on 2nd.  Why 2?  

Most of the ones I've seen in the West Edge neighborhood have been by Todd Lown and Jesse Brown.  I have found a blog created by Todd Lown.  It is located at:  http://toddlown.blogspot.com/.  So far nothing on Jesse Brown.  I wonder if the above box is a self-portrait of the two of them?

I will continue to search these out, concentrating on the West End Neighborhood.  I do have a couple in the Sodo Neighborhood that I'll share next week. 

Arlington - Foster's Produce & Corn Maze

Photo by:  Cherri

Foster's is located at 5818 State Route 530 NE, just a couple of miles east on the way to Arlington.  Their phone number is 360-435-6516 or 360-435-5095 and their website is www.fosterscornmaze.com.



 

Melissa and I discovered this little local store on the way out to Darrington last summer.  It had tayberries advertized for sale and since we didn't know what a tayberry was, we stopped in.

It seem a tayberry is a cross between a blackberry and a red raspberry and named after the river Tay in Scotland. The fruit is sweeter, much larger, and more aromatic than that of the loganberry , also a blackberry and red raspberry cross. The tayberry is grown for its edible fruits which can be eaten raw or cooked, but the fruit does not pick easily by hand and cannot be machine harvested, so they have not become a commercially grown berry crop.

Melissa and I absolutely loved them and can't wait for them to be available again next summer.

Photo by:  Cherri

Photo by:  Cherri

Foster's also has a number of other things to recommend them, particularly this time of year.  They have a U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, a corn maze with hidden gnomes, a night maze every Saturday night in October with a bonfire, wagon rides, a pumpkin slingshot, ice cream, waffle cones, espresso, espresso milkshakes, pumpkin pie, hot apple cider, hot food and more.

Photo by:  Cherri

One of the things we particularly enjoyed was the Old West town, farm animals and the trick goat in the barn area.  He pulls his food up in a can on a pulley to the top where he eats it.  Admission is free to this area.  There is also a Kidz Corral which features a Hay Maze for the little ones.  Admission to this is just $1.00

Other offerings:

• 50 acres of vegetables grown there on their family farm. They have built a reputation for our delicious Sweet Corn — a must for your August BBQ's! They also grow green beans, pickling cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, patty pans, beets and many other vegetables!
• In addition to the tayberries, they carry fresh strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, and blueberries in season.  Also available are Eastern Washington peaches, nectarines, pears, apricots and cherries.
• Hanging baskets & U-Pick Flowers
• Espresso Drinks & Mocha Shakes
• Ice Cream Cones & Waffle Cones baked fresh on the farm!
• Gourmet Food Jars
• Fresh & Frozen Pies
• Cooked Corn
• Honey
• Jams, Jellies, Syrups
• Candies and Snacks

Foster's also has an antique store and gift shop with some rather unique items in it.  In addition to buying your pumpkins, gourds and homemade baked goods, you can pick up some unusual Christmas gifts.  Be sure to check them out on the above link to their website for more information, directions and more PICTURES.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 6

Photo by:  Cherri

This box is located at the NE Corner of 2nd and Union, across the street from Benaroya Hall.  It is also by the team of Lown and Brown.  I will be covering the Concert Hall in a future blog.  However, a conductor on this corner seems appropriate.

My sister, Vicki told be because I have all four sides of these boxes cut to be able to square them up, she has some difficulty trying to picture them on the street.  She also had not noticed them in the past.  Consequently I snapped a picture of this painted control box from across the street. in situ.

Photo by:  Cherri

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 5

Photo by:  Cherri

This is the box at the Northwest Corner of 2nd and University.  Benaroya Hall on on the opposite corner taking up the whole block between Union and University.  Seattle Art Museum is across University, behind the box taking up the whole block between 1st and 2nd.

This one is also designed and painted by Todd Lown and painted by Jesse Brown.  I will do some research on these two artists and bring you more information in a later blog.

Hammering Man

Hammering Man is a series of monumental kinetic sculptures designed by artist Jonathon Borofsky which have been installed in various cities around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, Germany and Japan.    Seattle's is the 2nd largest at 48 feet tall, 30 inches wide and 7 inches deep, and weighs 26,000 pounds.  It is located directly in front of the Seattle Art Museum, know locally as SAM, on the NE corner of 1st and University in
Downtown Seattle.  The largest Hammering Man is in Frankfort, Germany. 

The sculpture is made out of hollow-fabricated steel with a mechanized arm of aluminum, an electric motor and flat black automotive paint. He was built in 1992 at a cost of $450,000. 

Hammering Man's arm "hammers" silently and smoothly four times per minute from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. It runs on a 3-hp electric motor set on an automatic timer. Hammering Man rests his arm each evening and every year on Labor Day.

On Labor Day 1993, a group of local artists attached a scaled-to-fit ball and chain to the sculpture's leg.

The Seattle Art Museum is a popular destination in Downtown Seattle, as well and will be covered in a future post to this blog.

Fremont - J.P. Patches

Photo by:  Vicki Phebus

J.P. Patches Bronze Statue

My friend JoAnn told my sister, Vicki that one of her friends creates bronze statues and was having an exhibit at the Schack Art Center in Everett, WA.  She asked if we would like to go visit the exhibit with her.  This artist's name is Kevin Pettelle and not only is he an internationally acclaimed artist, he was named artist of the year at Schack Art Center.  This exhibit featured his celebrations of the human form.  The three of us visited the Art Center at 2917 Hoyt Avenue in Everett.  It is not only a gallery, but a home and loft space for various artists.  I will feature this gallery in a future blog.  The show was absolutely fascinating, and both Vicki and I became fans as well.  

In the course of tour conversation we learned Kevin had been commissioned for a number of public statues.  One of the them is the statue of J.P. Patches located just east of the Waiting for the Interurban statue on 34th Ave in Fremont.  So, of course, we made arrangements for the three of us to visit this statue, after being so impressed with the exhibit.

J.P. Patches was a clown portrayed by Seattle entertainer Chris Wedes. The J.P. Patches Show was one of the longer-running locally-produced children's television programs in the United States, having appeared on Seattle TV station KIRO channel 7 from 1958 to 1981. The show was live, unrehearsed improv with rarely more than two live actors on screen,  Chris Wedes as Patches and Bob Newman as his girlfriend, Gertrude.  It did, however, have frequent contributions from the sound effects man and the off-camera crew.

Photo by:  Vicki Phebus

 J.P.'s friend Gertrude 

J.P. Patches hosted his show twice a day every weekday for 13 years (plus Saturdays), then for the next 8 years did the morning show only, and finally for the last 2 years appeared on Saturday mornings only—for a total of over 10,000 hours of on-air time. The show premiered on April 5, 1958.  

The show was immensely popular in the Puget Sound area and southwestern British Columbia, with children as well as their parents, who enjoyed J.P.'s frequent use of double entendre and sly subversiveness. Two generations of viewers grew up as "Patches Pals", sharing the joyful zany antics of J.P. with their kids. At the peak of its run, the Emmy-winning program had a viewership of over 100,000 in its local markets.

On July 22, 2012, Chris Wedes died after a long battle with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. He was 84. 

Photo by:  Vicki Phebus

While visiting, JoAnn told us there was a message written in Bronze under Gertrude's skirt.  Of course, I had to climb down there and check it out.  She's right!  There is a secret message written down there.  Be sure to check it out.  

Vicki and I were so impressed we went to visit some of the other public statues Kevin Pettelle has created.  I will feature those in future blogs and give you a little more information about this amazing artist.  In the meantime you can check out his other creations at his website:  http://www.soulinbronze.com/

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 4

Photo by:  Cherri Nowell

Here is the 4th corner surrounding Bruce's building.  He works in the Federal Building in downtown Seattle.  It takes up the entire block from 1st to 2nd and from Madison to Marion.  

I believe this is my favorite of the ones I have photographed so far.

Check back soon for more photos.

 

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 3

Here is the 3rd Painted Traffic Control Box.  I will try to take as many photos as I can of these unique glimpses into northwest life and post at least one a week.  In the meantime I will pursue trying to find out more information about these boxes from the Department of Transportation.

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 2

Photo by:  Cherri

This is the second in the series of painted traffic control boxes in downtown Seattle.  It is located at 1st and Marion across the street from the Federal building where Bruce works.

Unfortunately, this box has no credit given to the artist.  Hopefully, the others will have more information on the box.  I will be contacting the department of transportation soon, to see if it is possible to get more information on these boxes.  Eventually, I will put a link on these posts so that all the boxes I've captured can be viewed in a single place.

Check back soon, for the next installment. 

Correction to above statement:  This box is also attributed to Todd Lown and Jesse Brown.  I missed the signature on the back when I first posted it.  My apologies to the artists.

Short Interruption

Bruce and I will be flying to Manchester, New Hampshire tomorrow morning.  We are going to visit Fall Color in New Hampshire and Maine.  Plus, Bruce wants to show me the fishing villages and coastline of Maine.  I enjoy taking photographs of lighthouses and will be starting another blog about this trip.  However, I probably will not post anything new to this one for a week or so.

This is the first real vacation Bruce has taken in almost two years.  Hopefully, he can take his mind off business and enjoy a little respite from working two full time jobs.  For one he gets paid and the second is his passion.  He has taken on the responsibilities of a national officer in a volunteer organization.  

I've heard there is very little cell phone reception in Maine.  Perhaps he can get away for a few days.

In the meantime, check out my new Blog.

Fremont Troll

Photo by:  Vicki Phebus

From left:  Cherri, my sister Vicki and our friend JoAnn.

Volkswagen is on right.  Note hubcab for eye on Troll.

Fremont is a neighborhood of Seattle just north of Queen Anne.  The Fremont Troll lives under the George Washington Memorial Bridge which is known locally as the Aurora Bridge.  It is a huge statue located at N 36^th St at Troll Avenue under Aurora Avenue which crosses the Lake Union Ship Canal. 

 
Based on the Scandinavian fairytale Three Billy Goats Gruff, the idea of a troll living under a bridge was sculpted by four artists, Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead for a competition sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council in 1990. The goal, in part, was to clean up the area under the bridge which was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. 
The Troll is 18 ft. high, weighs 6,000 13,000 lbs. and is made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete.  It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle with a California license plate.  It’s one good eye is a hubcap.

Having moved from California to Washington 20 years ago, I remember the perceived prejudice about Californians coming up here and buying up all the cheap real estate, inflating housing prices.  Although I never personally felt like an interloper, I guess the troll was getting even!

Seattle's Painted Traffic Control Boxes 1

Photo by:  Cherri

Today, when I dropped Bruce off downtown, I took another look at the Traffic Control Box next to the Federal Building where he works.  I had seen these painted control boxes often as I drove around the downtown area.  Some of them are quite beautiful and all seem to relate to life here in Seattle.

After I got home I searched the internet at great length to find out more information about them, to no avail.  Of course, I thought they were electrical transformer boxes and that didn't help.  I took the above picture at the northeast corner of 1st and Madison, on all four sides, so that I could find more information about them.  They are found on the corner at almost every traffic signal in the downtown area.  There is some information available on how to apply for permission to paint one of these boxes at the Department of Tranportation. That is found at the following website:  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_signalboxart.htm

However, I was unable to come up with any details about the various artists or a map of their locations.  This seems a terrible shame that these local artists don't get more visibility for their work.  Since any kind of organized recognition seems to be lacking, I am going to try to photograph as many as possible and develop some kind of listing of these works of art with photographs and credit for the designers and painters.  I will try to add at least one traffic control box a week.

Check back soon for the latest updates.

Welcome

This is my new Blog Space.  I have no idea what I'm doing.  It is a learn as you go experience.  My intention is to post photos and information about the city I have lived in for nearly 20 years and have never really seen with the eyes of a tourist.  I hope to add information, history and personal observations about many of the iconic locations of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  

I will also be added other areas of interest in the rest of Washington State.  Hopefully, some of the places I present will intrigue you and you will want to visit yourself.  

Bruce and I are finally taking a vacation to New Hampshire and Maine next week to experience some New England Fall Color and explore some picturesque fishing villages along the coast.  I have a real interest in photographing some lighthouses and other points of interest in this region and will be sharing these on another blog:  Travel with the Locals. The url for that site is:  http://travelwiththelocals.blogspot.com/

In addition to the current trip, I have scores of photographs and information from other trips throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada that I would like to share as time permits on this second blog.  Remember,  Travels with Cherri is for Washington State and Travel with the Locals is for the rest of the world (Ambitious, aren't I!)

Wish me luck!  Hopefully, I can turn these blogs into a useful and professional looking blog spaces that someone may enjoy visiting.  If not, I've learned a new skill and will have enjoyed putting down on paper (opps!, that's the non-techie in me speaking) some of my experiences and photographs.

Thanks for visiting

Seattle 1

Photo by:  Cherri Nowell