The project was the focus of a public meet-and-greet with the artist Sarah Thompson Moore creator of tile mural she created, now installed there called Tracing Alki.
Moore began work on the project in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities in 2019. They were seeking art for their revision of Pump Station 38.
The pandemic slowed things down considerably but as it eased it picked up speed. Surprisingly this is the first work in tile she has done, with her primary medium being sculpture. She took inspiration from a topographical map that is now featured on the control box on the site. That box offers this explanation:
"Drawing from the physical features of the landscape that existed in the early days of European settlement, these map lines evoke imagery that speaks to various layers of the place that is Alki. You will find references to that imagery embedded within the artwork."
One of the highlighted locations in the tile mural. Photo by Patrick Robinson
Made from glass, ceramic and stone the design is embedded in the concrete and includes highlighted locations indicated by gold tiles surrounding spots made of Labradorite.
The map on the back of the control box was the inspiration for the art. Photo by Seattle Public Utilities
The design is made to be durable, "It should last indefinitely" said Moore but she is in the middle of a maintenance plan with SPU right now.
The work is reminiscent of tile murals in ancient Rome. Moore spent time in Florence during her college education and saw some of that work.
