LYNNWOOD—The City of Lynnwood held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 12, celebrating the unveiling of seven new public art installations that adorn the side of the upcoming Community Justice and Resource Center.
The five art pieces include We Are Not Just Black and White by Melissa Singh Cole, Pollination: A Journey of renewal and Hope in the Colors of Night by Tsovinar Muradyan, Inscape by Humaira Abid, Deliberation by Gregg Schlanger, Emergence by Milo White and Lin McJunkin, Shuri (which means to repair) by Erin Shigaki, and Upward and Onward by Melissa Singh Cole.
The deadline for artist applications was January 31, 2022, teams selected by May 16, 2022, and installation this year.
Arts Commission Staff Laison Fred Wong began the ceremony by sharing a few words before introducing Robert Gutcheck, Lynnwood Arts Commissioner.
“Thank you to the Council and Mayor for believing the arts have the power to inspire and to help make Lynnwood a great place to live, work, and play,” said Arts Commissioner Gutcheck.
Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell shared how much she appreciated the diversity of artists being represented, exemplifying the diversity of Lynnwood proper.
“Art does enliven our lives,” said Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzel who added that her spirits were lifted when walking by the new works of art outside the CJC.
In the spirit of new Lynnwood art, a new mural will be unveiled at North Lynnwood Park and Lyndale Park, Mayor Frizzell shared. For years the city has been investing in public community art projects such as signal box projects, I Love Lynnwood sculpture, murals, etc.
In two weeks the city of Lynnwood will be unveiling a new mural right outside of KFC and several new art installments are currently featured at the upcoming Lynnwood Link light rail station opening August 30.
“We are blessed to have so many people who want to display their art in our city and it will be here for decades and generations to come,” said Mayor Frizzell.
Lynnwood Police Chief Cole Langdon shared that he walks by the art at night with his young Boston terrier.
“To see a group come together and make this happen over the period of three and a half, four years, is really something to celebrate. The fact that we’re taking a moment to remember this, to celebrate, thanks for letting us be a part of it and thanks for adorning the side of our facility with this beautiful expression of humanity,” said Langdon.
The Community Justice Center is expected to open this Fall, Chief Langdon told the Lynnwood Times. The Community Resource Center is expected to enter the two-month long certification process this Fall as well.
Council President George Hurst, Council Vice President Julieta Altamirano-Crosby and four of the city’s five Arts Commissioners were also in attendance—Tiffany Grunzel, Robert Gutcheck, Raniere, and Kalen Knowles.
Each artist spoke about their work, except for Melissa Singh Cole who was unable to attend Monday’s event.
Upwards and Onwards and We Are Not Just Black and White
Artist Melissa Singh Cole was commissioned by the city of Lynnwood to create two colorful mosaics filled with joy, movement and a sense of purpose.
“In order to function as a community, we need to look beyond our black and white ideas and become more flexible and empathetic in order to realize our common goals of helping each other and protecting our planet. The ribbons of hearts within this mural were created in a community mosaic workshop at the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club of Lynnwood,” said Singh Cole.
Singh Cole’s work depicts the feeling of water which, she said, can be a source of fear, feeling as if you are “underwater” or that life is overwhelming.
Singh continued that water can also represent healing on many levels. The figures in the artwork focus on hope, healing and help from others. They show that there will be a chance to “breathe after being underwater”.
One of the figures offers a helping hand. This may be a humbling experience, but sometimes it becomes necessary to accept assistance in order to heal. The iconic PNW salmon represent strength and determination in their challenging journey to return home. The strings of bubbles streaming through the design were created in a community mosaic workshop at the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club of Lynnwood.
Pollination: A Journey of Renewal and Hope in the Colors of the Night
Tsovinar Muradyan’s installation consists of three pieces, offering a transformative experience about renewal, growth, and the essence of life portrayed through the theme of pollinators against the backdrop of night. Each artwork is designed to glow in the dark, symbolizing the guiding light of lost souls seeking redemption and the promise of new beginnings.
This grand perspective shifts the focus from the individual to the universal, the artist said, suggesting that every soul’s journey contributes to the greater tapestry of life. The glowing constellations remind us that, like stars, everyone has the potential to light up their corner of the universe.
“Together, these artworks serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration, illuminating the Community Justice Center’s walls and the hearts of those who encounter them. They embody the message that within the darkness, there is always a path towards light and betterment, encouraging each individual to find their glow and contribute to the cycle of life,” said Muradyan.
Inscape
Humaira Abid’s work aims to focus on hope and freedom to enjoy simple pleasures of life and nature.
“Intentional use of mirror finished stainless steel is for the viewers to see their own reflection in the work and imagine themselves in a landscape they want to be, free as birds, happy and care free as kids,” said Abid.
Deliberation
Greg Schlanger’s Deliberation includes portraits of the citizens of Lynnwood.
“It is about our right to a jury of one’s peers. It is about community and justice,” said Schlangger.
A temporary portrait studio was set up at the Lynnwood Public Library, the Lynnwood Recreation Center, and the Lynnwood Senior Center to create the work.
The high contrast portraits are of Lynnwood citizens representing the diversity of the community. Each person was asked to complete the sentence, Justice is … The printed text displays the responses of the people of Lynnwood. The twelve highlighted portraits represent the Jury.
Emergence
Milo White and Lin McJunkin’s uses the Washington State Butterfly, the Tiger Swallowtail, as its focus to signify transformation, hope, and renewal.
“We surrounded the adult with its life stages of egg, larvae, and chrysalis to inspire hope and a belief in positive change in all who view these panels depicting an amazing act of metamorphosis,” said the artists. “Ideally, offenders, victims and communities will benefit from a just and healing time spent by those whose incarceration provided education, skills acquisition, self-awareness and spiritual renewal.”
Shuri (to repair)
Erin Shigaki’s work offers gifts from her people, and from her native land of Japan.
“We heal by telling our stories of pain and sorrow, in counterbalance with those of joy and vitality,” said Shigaki.
As a descendant of Japanese Americans who were jailed en masse during WWII, Shigaki uses her moral imperative to question society’s obsession with incarcerating individuals.
Through her work, Shigaki asks the people and organizations involved in the CJC to keep promises: that it be a place of healing change providing broad health and rehabilitation services; that it be a place to find safety and help in times of dire crisis; that it be a place that helps people find a way out of the criminal justice system, instead of one that perpetuates it.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
