Saturday, April 23, 2011

Papel Picado @ Beacon Hill Station


Papel Picado @ Beacon Hill Station
Photo & Text © 2011 Kim- Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved; no use, alteration, reproduction or republishing in any media.

These bright flag sculptures against a very gray sky mark the new Link Light Rail station in Beacon Hill. They were designed by artist Carl Smool who also created the dozens of "carpet" pavers on the plaza, Common Threads, decorated with patterns from cultures around the world, including from the Duwamish first peoples of Seattle. The patterned cut metal flags he created, in the tradition of Mexican papel picado banners, move with the direction of the wind. Last month a stormy wind brought down one of the giant flag poles at 5:30 pm (video here). The bus stop where these people are waiting in front of the light rail station features sculpture by Steven Gardner. His designs will be featured on 19 of the light rail stations' connecting bus stops along the route through Seattle.

1 comment:

Oakland Daily Photo said...

I love papel picado and am impressed with how the artist reinvented it in metal.