This is the Maple Leaf Roosevelt Pump House, located somewhat confusingly in the Maple Leaf Reservoir Play Area, at Roosevelt Way Northeast and Northeast 82nd Street.
Seattle Public Utilities plans to have a mural painted on the long gray walls that face the play area:
SPU is working with local artist Jonathan Fischer and community member Scott K. Bishop to complete a “street-art” style mural that will wrap around the northeast corner of the building and be viewable from two sides. The mural will be created using spray paint with an anti-graffiti coating applied over the top.
The goal of the project is to brighten the building and provide park users with an artistic look and feel to the area. The design concept for the mural will include graffiti inspired and artist interpretations of butterflies, flowers, leaves, vines, trees and patterns, using bright, vibrant colors that complement the adjacent Butterfly Garden.
The utility says it’s looking for your ideas. “Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) values your input….The community is encouraged to provide SPU with feedback and ideas about the design and ask questions.”
We asked a question four days ago: “Is there an image of the design that folks can make comments about?”
We’ve heard nothing back.
We did, however, hear today from Joel, who is less than impressed. He says he’s told SPU:
It looks just fine to me as it is. Why is there any consideration being given to do this?
I also do not understand who I am speaking to or to who and all I am discussing this proposal. Just you?
This structure looks just right the way it is. It fits appropriately at its site and is subordinate to the successful landscape of that area….
To convert to painted walls will only appear as a contrived public arts project as it launches this structure into an inappropriate bold presence.
If it were a log cabin in a pleasant park environment we wouldn’t cover it with paint and pretend that we’ve improved the natural environment….
I believe a mistaken judgment is directing this decision and am urging you all to back away. This plan is a mistake. Please leave this building as it is.
The announcement says to contact Project Manager Cyndy Holtz at (206) 386-1990 or cyndy.holtz@seattle.gov.
The mural is to be painted in July.
I believe an open to all public process to choose art that offends no one, and pleases most would probably end up with a result that resembles what now exists on the building. Bland and perfectly functional.
Tim, thanks for the tip about King County’s Helo website, should be handy for figuring out future police activity in the area.
1) if painted – all green shades of evergreens and maple leafs ???
2) one more pickle ball court
3) 2 or 3 bocce ball courts
Jarvis, where would they get the water for a drinking fountain? Oh, never mind.
Only if they make it an earthquake proof water fountain.
Enjoy the weather. Greenwood Car Show and Pub Crawl is this Saturday.
The mural sounds like a great idea! That building is so ugly now. I’m sure the children who use that family terrace area most will love a colorful mural.
Would anyone be interested in talking with King 5 News about their feelings surrounding this?? Please email me amoreno@king5.com
thanks!
Art and facility upgrades shouldn’t be treated the same. I’m all for a few facility upgrades as well as the mural plan. As someone that’s worked on quite a few projects involving artwork I’ve learned the process really goes awry when everyone wants input on the artwork because everyone’s vision will be different, it works out much better having one community representative work with an artist to lay out some basic desires while letting the artist follow their own style and vision–so it sounds like they are doing this exactly right.
I encourage you all to contact Cyndy Holtz and get
photos of the artist’s proposals and his portfolio.
Ask her to send these to Mapleleaflife so that we
can all easily review them. I am the original Joel here and I continue to believe That SPU is misjudging the value of blasting colors off these walls. Should we next consider painting our tree
trunks to liven up our park areas?
I’d rather see art for this wall coming out of a community based process. We’d be far more likely to be happy with the end result, and have a shared sense of ownership in it. Such a process does not have to be arduous.
Graffiti inspired graphics, delivered by the city, of work which we can’t preview, doesn’t bring with it any feeling of connection to the park for me.
How about a drinking fountain somewhere along the loop?
I agree that the community should have some input on the mural design. Maybe some plants could be put around the perimeter as well. Blank walls are always ugly and most anything would be an improvement.
Hey, I kinda like the way the bathrooms look like an old mountain cabin! I agree with Elizabeth, “street” art is passe and waaaay overplayed. The green merry go-round my kids call the “not-so-merry-go-round”! That thing sucks compared to the old one.
Look, paint each wall it’s own neighborhood appropriate color and move on. More picnic tables for sure. One last thought. On the North end of the reservoir loop near the little entrance can’t they put in some 3-4 ft. posts that shine light down on the pathway for evening strolls. It would be no impact on the houses and definitely make it safer in the evening. Not so much in prime summer but worth it the rest of the year.
Why not use the money to upgrade / fix the ugly bathrooms instead? Or maybe even to fix the spinning toy in the playground that is always stuck? I agree with previous comments, street art will look dated. I also think street art is actually unattractive and even tacky, so I completely disagree with the decision to spend money on spray-painting the walls of the building. Why not make it a community project….paint it white and then have the neighborhood kids come by and put colorful hand prints and drawings on it. Now that would truly match the spirit of the rest of the play area and butterfly garden.
Sounds like they might be trying to fill the 1% quota?
http://www.seattle.gov/arts/publicart/ordinance.asp
If a mural is done it should be nature based. Trees, animals, etc…. That would blend in better with the park. Oh wait, I know, how about something with Maple Leaf’s 🙂
While i agree the building is drab I also agree it should remain subordinate to the surrounding lanscape. Maybe a fresh coat of paint and the rest of the money could go for a few more picnic tables throughout the park? I think graffiti/street style type art is passe and overdone and will date the park in a few years in a far more obvious way than the old building.
I don’t understand the arguments of Joel and LH. The building is ugly as hell, why wouldn’t you want to make it look better? Although I disagree with their argument, I do believe all it needs is a new coat of paint. Just the siding, not the stone, maybe try and coordinate the bathrooms (they are ugly too) with the pump house so out looks more cohesive. I don’t think there needs to be a mural.
I agree with Joel. Creating a “street style graffiti” mural on a building that should remain subordinate to the landscape, not the focal point seems to be a waste of time and money.
Perhaps instead of painting a blank wall in the midst of our beautiful park we can put the paint needed for the mural project to better use: covering up actual graffiti throughout our neighborhood and city.