LYNNWOOD— The City of Lynnwood held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 12, unveiling seven new public art installations that will adorn the side of the upcoming Community Justice and Resource Center.
The five artworks include We are not just black and white by Melissa Singh Cole, Pollination: A journey of renewal and hope in the colours of the night by Tsovinar Muradyan, Inscape by Humaira Abid, consideration by Gregg Schlanger, Origin by Milo White and Lin McJunkin, Shuri (which means “to repair”) by Erin Shigaki and Up and forward by Melissa Singh Cole.
The deadline for artists to apply was January 31, 2022. Teams were selected by May 16, 2022, and the installation took place this year.
Laison Fred Wong, arts commissioner, opened the ceremony with a few words before introducing Robert Gutcheck, Lynnwood’s arts commissioner.
“We thank the City Council and the Mayor for their belief that the arts have the power to inspire and help make Lynnwood a great place to live, work and play,” said Art Commissioner Gutcheck.
Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell said how much she appreciated the diversity of artists represented, which exemplifies the diversity of Lynnwood itself.
“Art enlivens our lives” said Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzel, adding that her spirits were lifted as she passed by the new artwork in front of the CJC.
In the spirit of new Lynnwood art, a new mural will be unveiled in North Lynnwood Park and Lyndale Park, Mayor Frizzell announced. For years, the city has invested in public community art projects such as signal box projects, I Love Lynnwood sculptures, murals, etc.
In two weeks, the City of Lynnwood will unveil a new mural right in front of KFC, and several new pieces of art are currently on display at the Lynnwood Link light rail station, which opens August 30.
“We are fortunate that so many people want to exhibit their art in our city. It will be here for decades and generations to come,” said Mayor Frizzell.
Lynnwood Police Chief Cole Langdon said he walks past the artwork at night with his young Boston Terrier.
“To see a group come together and make something like this happen over a period of three and a half, four years is truly a cause for celebration. The fact that we take a moment to remember, to celebrate. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this and thank you for adorning the side of our facility with this beautiful expression of humanity,” said Langdon.
The Community Justice Center is scheduled to open this fall, Chief Langdon told the Lynnwood Times. The Community Resource Center is also scheduled to enter the two-month certification process this fall.
Council President George Hurst, Council Vice President Julieta Altamirano-Crosby and four of the city’s five arts commissioners were also in attendance – Tiffany Grunzel, Robert Gutcheck, Raniere and Kalen Knowles.
Each artist spoke about their work, with the exception of Melissa Singh Cole, who was unable to attend Monday’s event.
Upward and forward and we are not just black and white
Artist Melissa Singh Cole was commissioned by the City of Lynnwood to create two colorful mosaics full of joy, movement and purpose.
“To function as a community, we must look beyond our black and white ideas and become more flexible and empathetic to achieve our common goals, help each other and protect our planet. The heart ribbons in this mural were made in a community mosaic workshop at the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club of Lynnwood,” said Singh Cole.
Singh Cole’s work depicts the feeling of water, which she says can be a source of anxiety, as if one is “underwater” or as if life is overwhelming.
Singh went on to say that water can also represent healing on many levels. The figures in the artwork focus on hope, healing and helping others, showing that there is a chance to “breathe after being underwater.”
One of the figures offers a helping hand. This can be a humbling experience, but sometimes accepting help is necessary in order to heal. The iconic salmon from the Pacific Northwest represent strength and determination on their difficult journey home. The strands of bubbles that flow through the design were created in a community mosaic workshop at the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club of Lynnwood.
Pollination: A journey of renewal and hope in the colours of the night
Comprising three parts, Tsovinar Muradyan’s installation offers a transformative experience about renewal, growth and the essence of life, represented through the theme of pollinators against the backdrop of night. Each artwork is designed to glow in the dark, symbolizing the guiding light of lost souls seeking redemption and the promise of a new beginning.
This grand perspective shifts the focus from the individual to the universal, the artist said, suggesting that each soul’s journey contributes to the greater whole of life. The glowing constellations remind us that, like stars, everyone has the potential to illuminate their corner of the universe.
“Together, these works of art serve as beacons of hope and inspiration, illuminating the walls of the Community Justice Center and the hearts of those who encounter them. They embody the message that in the darkness there is always a path to light and improvement, and encourage each individual to find their light and contribute to the circle of life,” said Muradyan.
Inscape
Humaira Abid’s work aims to focus on hope and freedom to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and nature.
“Through the deliberate use of highly polished stainless steel, the viewer is meant to see his own reflection in the work and imagine living in a landscape in which he would like to be, free like birds, happy and carefree like children,” said Abid.
consideration
Greg Schlanger’s “Deliberation” contains portraits of the citizens of Lynnwood.
“It’s about our right to a jury of equals. It’s about community and justice,” said Schlanger.
To create the works, a temporary portrait studio was set up at the Lynnwood Public Library, the Lynnwood Recreation Center and the Lynnwood Senior Center.
The high-contrast portraits feature citizens of Lynnwood and represent the diversity of the community. Each person was asked to complete the sentence “Justice is…” The printed text shows the responses of the people of Lynnwood. The twelve highlighted portraits represent the jury.
Origin
Milo White and Lin McJunkin use the Tiger Swallowtail, a butterfly native to Washington state, as a focal point to symbolize transformation, hope and renewal.
“We have surrounded the adult animal with its life stages of egg, larva and pupa to convey hope and faith in positive change to all who look at these images, which depict an amazing act of metamorphosis,” said the artists. “Ideally, offenders, victims and the community benefit from a just and healing time spent by those whose incarceration has enabled them to gain education, skills, self-knowledge and spiritual renewal.”
Shuri (repair)
Erin Shigaki’s work offers gifts from her people and her homeland, Japan.
“We heal by telling our stories of pain and suffering in exchange for those of joy and vitality.” said Shigaki.
As a descendant of Japanese-Americans who were mass-incarcerated during World War II, Shigaki uses her moral imperative to challenge society’s obsession with locking people up.
Through her work, Shigaki challenges the individuals and organizations involved in the CJC to keep their promises: that it is a place of healing and change, providing comprehensive health and rehabilitation services; that it is a place to find safety and support in times of great crisis; that it is a place that helps people find a way out of the criminal justice system rather than perpetuating it.
