The City of Seattle has invested a massive effort in rebuilding the city’s central waterfront, after removing the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Part of the city’s investment in the waterfront has gone towards public art.

We talk with Brangien Davis, arts editor at Cascade PBS, and the host of the Cascade PBS show Art by Northwest. She highlights a few of her favorite art pieces along the new waterfront - and explains why night time is the right time to visit those pieces. 

That includes an art installation by artist Ann Hamilton, called “Guests.” It features 42 large scale puppets, suspended from the underside of the pedestrian bridge between the Pike Place Market garage and the screen wall on the new Elliott Way. Brangien calls these new guests “the night puppets” in her excellent newsletter about the waterfront park.

Brangien also tells us about three carved cedar sculptures, titled “Family,” created by artist Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson. 

Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson is a Coast Salish artist and a member of the Puyallup Tribe who works in wood, glass, metal, and digital media.  

Brangien says, “This is a family and represents families that have been in this region for thousands of years.” The trio represents a mother, father and child and the figures stand between 10 and 12 feet tall, not including their bases. The figures face the water and are brilliantly illuminated at night. 

Also mentioned in this episode:

Roller Boogie at Pier 66, October 10 from 6-10pm; free, all-ages 

Xian Zhang is the new music director of the Seattle Symphony. She is also the first woman and the first person of color to direct the Symphony in its more than 120-year history. “Xian Conducts Rachmaninov” on October 2, 4 and 5, at Benaroya Hall. 

You can hear an interview with Xian Zhang on this episode of Seattle Now. 

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