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Tuesday, September 6, 2011

City / Visual Art Putting the Public into Public Art

Posted by Goldy on Tue, Sep 6, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Goldy | The Stranger

When it comes to public art, you can't get much more public than this accidental installation at Metro's No. 7 stop near the corner of Rainier Ave. S. and S. Graham, in that it's the public, apparently, who is the artist. Over the past few years, two cables supporting a lamppost have gradually accumulated a number of colorful locks. It's all been rather organic. And kinda cool.

So, is this happening all over the city, and I just haven't noticed? Is this just what the kids do these days? Or is this sort of collaborative art unique to the corner of Rainier and S. Graham, and is there some sort of story that explains its origin?

Anybody know?

Goldy | The Stranger

Comments (6) RSS

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_padloc…

It's just what the kids are doing these days.

Posted by raggeddog on September 6, 2011 at 12:19 PM

As far as trends go, I guess it beats planking.

Posted by Reg on September 6, 2011 at 12:32 PM

It's kind of cool and different! I wonder if the locks are engraved with names or initials like the "love locks" linked at #1?

Posted by Prairie Dog on September 6, 2011 at 12:52 PM

I live a block from here and use this stop daily. The neighborhood kids put their bike locks here when they graduate high school. I see it grow every June.

Posted by Mike Smith on September 6, 2011 at 1:10 PM

@4 probably graduating middle school (Aki), there are no high schools nearby.

Posted by meks on September 6, 2011 at 9:05 PM

@5 right, so neither are there are no high school aged kids in the area who would use the bus stop to get to a high school outside of walking/biking distance...

Posted by Mike Smith on September 7, 2011 at 10:44 AM