Artist John Grade began installing a temporary sculpture at the Bitter Lake Reservoir this week. The sculpture—titled "Mantle"—evokes the image of a water tower. It will gradually take shape over the course of several weeks.

Artist John Grade began installing a temporary sculpture at the Bitter Lake Reservoir this week. The sculpture—titled Mantle—evokes the image of a water tower. It will gradually take shape over the course of several weeks. In September, the artwork’s wooden frames will cradle a spherical cloud-like form. Grade is creating the cloud with a corn-based polymer. The “cloud” will gradually biodegrade when exposed to rain and ultimately disappear. Over the course of about six months, viewers will see the temporary installation change, offering a means of framing and examining the role water plays in our urban lives. Mantle will be on view through January 2010 at the North Seattle reservoir, near the intersection of North 138th Street and Linden Avenue North.

Grades temporary project is part of Water Calling—a series of short films and temporary public art projects designed to get Seattleites thinking about environmental stewardship and urban watersheds. The projects were commissioned with Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art funds and managed by this Office.