That 'weird amphitheater' is comprised of the old entrance columns from a black church that was razed to build I-5. It's a memory of the entire neighborhood(s) that was destroyed to allow the freeway, and it warrants some pause when you see it, IMHO.

"The proposed site for the life-size statue is the southwest corner of Fremont Ave. N. and N. 34th Street, approximately 50 feet west of the "Waiting for the Interurban" sculpture in downtown Fremont. Seattle businesswoman Suzie Burke graciously donated the land for the statue, which will depict J.P., Gertrude and the famous ICU2TV, from which J.P. issued personalized on-air birthday greetings to his puzzled but delighted young fans."

Getcher bricks here
http://jppatches.com/

The space at the pointy end of Westlake Park would be my actual vote, in the spot where those metal blocks are today. It's a prominent space, visible to lots of foot/bus/vehicle traffic, which is wasted on what's there now. Does anybody notice that they're even there anymore?

The columns are also replicated down on the UW campus, just south of Drumheller Fountain.

No they aren't. The original columns are at UofW in the little area called Sullivan Theater, which you mention.

It might help if there were a plaque or explanation of some sort at the "weird amphitheater" to explain WTF they are

Correction: Slylvan Theater

http://www.washington.edu/newsroom/tour/sylvan.html

Ikea ball pit, anyone?

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/borenpikepinepark.htm

Really? The southwest corner of 34th & Fremont is currently the site of a Baja Fresh outlet, across 34th from Peet's Coffee (where the Red Door was, before it moved the second time). I wasn't aware Suzie had enough land there to donate...there's a four or five story building (containing the Baja Fresh) there.

In the meantime, the artist has been paid to create the work, and no space in the city is forced to permanently host the work, which means the work itself can be much bolder.

I would love to see more temporary installations of public art in Seattle. Or, imagine that traffic island near Powell's in Portland with a big three-legged spider/typewriter eraser sculpture on it. Imagine that as the site of new sculptures on, say, an annual basis. How great would that be compared to the current state?

In Seattle, all sorts of sites could work. Victor Steinbrueck Park, Westlake Park, the plaza in front of City Hall, Cal Anderson Park, the little niches in the older part of the Henry Art Gallery, Red Square on the UW campus, the plaza in front of SCCC, Occidental Park, Pioneer Square....

@11, the circles are the art. Beliz Brother, perhaps? So that space is "full."

Seattle has an amazing public arts program. Many new projects have been available for bid. More so than most urban areas. There's funding!

One way artists can market is through art consultants and dealers. If you meet them at openings and present / represent (!), you could have any amazing show in a lobby of a high rise in the down town areas and receive more exposure.