Outdoor Art in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

I find that art and nature make an almost irresistible combination, and the bayside gallery of sculptures in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is particularly wonderful.  The outdoor art trail takes you past several sculptures in a natural setting.  Take a look:

Entrance to boardwalk

Giant salmon bones

Shorebird swirl

Boardwalk

Spinners along boardwalk

Tiny frog sculpture on boardwalk

Feathers

Start of hillside climb trail

Red-legged frog leap arcs

 

Sculptures as Expression of Soul Life

“These statues were like myself full of a thought, for ever about to burst forth as a bud, yet silent in the same attitude.  Give me to live the soul-life they express.”
— from The Story of My Heart by Richard Jeffries with commentary by Brooke Williams and Terry Tempest Williams

Triangle by Kirsten Kokkin

Triangle by Kirsten Kokkin

” . . . wherever there is a beautiful statue there is a place of pilgrimage.”
— from The Story of My Heart by Richard Jeffries with commentary by Brooke Williams and Terry Tempest Williams

While in Colorado, my brother and sister-in-law took me to the Benson Sculpture Park in Loveland, Colorado.  This amazing outdoor sculpture garden showcases well over a hundred pieces, many realistic, but some abstract and some quite whimsical.  It was a lovely place to stroll and quietly marvel at art.  Here are a few more photos:

Benson Sculpture Park

Painting Music by Angela De La Vega

Natural Wonders by Michele Moushey Dale

Blue Heron by Hollis Williford

Circle of Peace by Gary Lee Price

 

 

 

Mad Art on the UW Campus

University of Washington campus

My friend Carol and I took the Mad Campus Art Walk at the University of Washington this week.  The “Mad Art” consisted of 12 outdoor sculptures and  installations, a temporary display that will end this weekend.  Although we did not like some of the pieces, it was fun to follow the map and discover art amidst busy student life.  Almost like having a treasure map!

Untitled aerial installation by Alyson Piskorowski

Wave Sine by W. Scott Trimble

Six Swans by Tory Franklin

Burnt Into Time by Brian Widmaier

Student walking down Memorial Way NE on the UW campus

Watercolor sketch of Memorial Way NE on the UW campus