Supporters of the Salmon Bay Natural Area are invited to attend an open house to view proposals for a landmark art piece to mark the site from the trail and Northwest 54th Street, enhance the entry to the gathering place and reinforce the interpretive elements on the site, particularly the Native American heritage of the area, said steward of the natural area Dave Boyd.

The open house will be this Monday, May 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Canal, adjacent to the site in the former Hiram's (on the south side of Northwest 54th, just west of the Locks).

Five Native American artists or teams were invited to submit proposals. Funding for the artwork is from a Groundswell NW Neighborhood Matching Fund grant and Seattle Public Utilities Percent for Arts fund. The artwork will become part of the City of Seattle's permanent collection, and the process is being administer by the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

The purpose of the open house is not to vote on the proposals, but to provide community members and project supporters an opportunity to view the proposals and provide comments. The feedback will be considered by the selection panel, who will forward their recommendation to the City's Public Art Advisory Committee later in May.

The intent is to install the artwork by the end of September 2009.

Boyd said special thanks should be paid to The Canal for hosting the event (and supplying a table and chairs for a brief steering committee meeting following the open house).