New Achetypes - Seattle, WA - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Located in the courtyard in front of the 1201 Third Avenue building (formerly Washington Mutual Tower) is a group of five metallic sculptures. Four of the sculptures are large columns, in the Doric (plain) style, and the fifth sculpture is a lightning bolt that juts out from a nearby fountain which also contains metallic spouts that complement these sculptures well.

The AIC description for these sculptures says:

Abstract installation of a grouping of four columns and an arrow shaft embedded in rock, all made of stainless steel. The round columns have square bases and square caps and appear as if constructed of segmented pieces. These segments are all slightly out of alignment, and one of the columns looks like it has toppled - its segments are lying side-by-side on the ground. Another column has "lost" its square cap, which lies beside it at an angle. The steel arrow shaft, embedded in a rock, sits in a concrete fountain basin. he sculpture was commissioned by Wright Runstad and Company.

The sculptures were created by artist couple Anne and Patrick Poirier in 1990. They have a personal website here.

In my own personal observation, I was captivated by these large, stainless steel columns in the courtyard and I enjoyed the tension that was created with each column broken up into slices that feel as if an earthquake has made them break up into pieces. The columns make you feel slightly uncomfortable as you get up close to them, as though another tremble or two and they may topple down upon you! I also appreciate the very contemporary approach to a very ancient, architectural style.

TITLE: New Archetypes ARTIST(S): Anne and Patrick Poirier DATE: 1990 MEDIUM: Sculpture: stainless steel; Base: granite, concrete CONTROL NUMBER: IAS WA000552 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Washington Mutual Tower, Courtyard on 2nd between University & Seneca Streets Seattle, Washington DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: The only addition to add to the AIC description and my observation is that the Washington Mutual Tower building is now known as the 1201 Third Avenue building. The building is currently up for sale (as of 9/2012). *NOTE* AIC has my permission to use the pictures I've provided when creating this waymark for their database. ~Doug Halvorsen (thebeav69)

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Date Logged Log   08/17/2014 The Burrow visited it