Ellen Sollod is transforming Mercer Corridor. After the installation of the sculpture Origami Tessellation 324.3.4 (Fractured) on Mercer Street in 2012, additional elements of her design appeared throughout the corridor: stone benches and hatch covers in 2013. The artist recently installed the final components of the design, “Lost in Thought”. This consists of three seven-foot diameter mosaic insets placed in the sidewalk at Valley Street and Westlake Avenue, and at Valley Street and Fairview Avenue. The mosaics feature silhouettes of a man, woman, dog and cat, with punctuated speech bubbles, encouraging viewers to complete the thought. Sollod’s intention is that these thoughts come from the internal conversations we have with ourselves as we wait for the lights to change at busy intersections. 
Ellen Sollod is a visual artist who creates large-scale site specific installations and intimate works for an audience of one. She has worked as an artist in the public realm for more than 20 years. From her artist statement, Sollod says, ”In this cacophonous world where so many experiences are mediated, art focuses the mind and brings our attention to what’s in front of us,” and her mosaics help pedestrians do just that. The next time you’re in the South Lake Union neighborhood, be sure to see Ellen’s many artworks!
Photos by Ellen Sollod.
