“Heaven and Earth” Sculpture Exhibit at Carkeek Park, Seattle

Seattle, Washington, June 1, 2009

In an unprecedented collaboration between a non-profit art gallery and a neighborhood advisory council, CoCA will present an exhibition of temporary, outdoor sculptural installations in Carkeek Park organized around the theme of “Heaven and Earth,” from June 26 – August 10, 2009.

While Carkeek’s reputation rests on its forest-trail system and the salmon in Piper’s Creek, “Heaven and Earth” is the first major art exhibition held in a city park outside of downtown since Magnuson Park last hosted the “HorseHead” sculpture exhibit in 1998. In 2008, Sunset magazine named Carkeek #3 among America’s top 10 urban parks.

The show’s title emphasizes the ways in which our parks are implicitly havens (“heavens”) where nature is ‘preserved’ and kept as intact as possible. The sculptures at Carkeek evoke themes of art and nature, of sustainability and re-use in a world of rapid environmental change.

While most of the 11 artists reside in Seattle (Vaughn Bell and Meredith Hall, Miguel Edwards, Todd Lawson, Julie Lindell, Peppé, Stephen Rock, Sylwia Tur), others come from Bainbridge Island (Kristin Tollefson), Camano Island (Aaron Haba), Shelton (Barbara De Pirro), and as far away as Caracas, Venezuela via Miami Beach (Gerry Stecca).

Supported by a nearly $10,000 Neighborhood Matching Fund Small and Simple grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, the project also brings together City of Seattle Parks and Recreation and Associated Recreation Councils. Besides plans for its own web-site, the sponsors will also publish a book with images from the exhibit, letterpress binding & cover, and written statements on the show’s themes from all the artists.

The opening reception, with free maps of the “Heaven and Earth” sculpture trail, events commemorating the 80^th anniversary of the founding of the park, kids activities and guided tours, occurs on Saturday, June 27, from 1:00 – 5:00 at the Environmental Learning Center in Carkeek Park, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road. Free entry and parking are provided.

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