Title
Approval of the Welcome Figure Concept Plan
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission moves to approve the Welcome Figure concept design by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Arts Commission recommendation.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Welcome Figure concept plan. If approved, the final concept will return to the Arts Commission on January 9, 2024 for refining of structural details. When those details are finalized, the artist will move into fabrication.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor
Kathy Dorgan, Chair Olympia Arts Commission
Andrea Wilbur Sigo, Northwest carver and artist (Squaxin Island and Skokomish)
Background and Analysis:
In 2021, the City of Olympia renewed their five year accord with the Squaxin Island Tribe. The agreement includes commitment to long term actions including “Create more opportunities for public art, education and community service that will promote a healthy exchange of cultures.” The Olympia City Council and the Squaxin Island Tribal Council conduct biannual meetings in part to “maintain a shared vision” for this five year accord, in preparation for reaffirming that accord in 2026. One of those meetings produced a shared vision for a Welcome Figure by Andrea Wilbur Sigo in downtown Olympia.
A Salish welcome figure is a tall human figure carved in the Coast Salish tradition to welcome guests to their territory. They are often carved with arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture, or with a hand shading their eyes to watch for visitors. Such figures are an important part of coast Salish community, and a Welcome Figure in downtown Olympia is an important recognition that Olympia is situated on the ancestral lands of the Squaxin people.
The Olympia City Council and the Squaxin Tribal Council worked through a process to identify a preferred location on the isthmus property at the southeast end of the Olympia Yashiro Friendship Bridge, at the Isthmus Park. The site is a small piece of undeveloped park land, currently asphalt, that overlooks the future Deschutes estuary. The site also has significance to the tribe, as the waterway supports a returning salmon run, and was the location of fish-ins on the bank, part of the Fish Wars in the 1970’s. Site improvements will be facilitated by the Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, funded through Percival Landing maintenance reserve from Olympia Municipal Park District funds. A pre-submission meeting was held on August 21, 2024. The proposed site improvements (see attachments) include removing the asphalt and gravel substrate, planting native perennials, shrubs, and trees, crushed oyster shells or crushed rock paving along with sand-set pavers to provide an accessible route to the sculpture, placement of wood log rounds to serve as informal seating and re-striping of adjacent parking stops and installation of wheel stops, in addition to structural foundation for the sculpture.
Andrea Wilbur Sigo is an accomplished artist, member of the Squaxin Island Tribe and the first known woodcarver in her family for eight generations. In 2023, Andrea celebrated completion of “Mowitch Man” and “The Creator” at the Seattle Convention Center’s new Summit Building, and in 2024, completed a privately commissioned Welcome Figure for a waterfront home just south of Squaxin Park. She also has several sculptures in Olympia’s public art collection including the set of Art Crossing sculptures titled “Unity” on Eastside Street.
On November 14, Ms. Sigo shared her concept plan for the Welcome Figure. The form is female, holding a paddle (with raven design), and a baby on her back. The sculpture will be carved from cedar, 10-12 feet tall, with images of salmon and kelp in the skirt, acknowledging restoration efforts for both. She wears a beaded cedar headband, regalia worn in celebration and in identifying higher ranking community members, emphasizing the significance that she is now home. The carving will be finished with an adze, which is a traditional carving tool that leaves a distinctive texture to the finished sculpture that also seals the grain of the wood, enhancing water resistance.
Climate Analysis:
Approval of this Welcome Figure should not significantly impact the climate. The location is going through site review under the shoreline permitting process.
Equity Analysis:
This Welcome Figure is part of the continuing effort of the 5 year accord, including the Squaxin flag over City Hall and the renaming of Squaxin Park to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this area who stewarded the lands and waters since time immemorial and whose descendants are still here today. This project also contributes to better representation of Olympia’s residents within the parks system and the greater community.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
Approve the Welcome Figure concept plan as presented.
Do not approve the concept plan and provide feedback to the Arts Commission.
Do not approve the concept plan.
Financial Impact:
$50,000 for the Welcome Figure was approved in the 2024 Municipal Art Plan.
Attachments:
Welcome Figure Proposal
Landscape Design