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.