Christian French has been selected to create an artwork for Seattle Public Utilities 24^th Ave NW Public Pier Project. He will work with SPU staff, Seattle Department of Transportation staff, local community and neighboring businesses and the Office of Arts & Culture staff to design inlays to be integrated into the concrete surface for the public pier at the street end of 24^th Ae NW and NW 54^th St. The artwork will relate to the maritime nature, geological and traditional history of the site based on the pier’s location in the midst of a marine industrial area in Ballard.

SPU is reconstructing the public pier at 24^th Ave NW in Ballard a part of the Ship Canal Water Quality Project. After construction is complete the pier will become a public amenity owned by SDOT and be in the right-of-way. For more information about the Ship Canal Water Quality project visit http://www.seattle.gov/util/EnvironmentConservation/Projects/ShipCanalWaterQuality/index.htm

About the artist:

Christian French is a Seattle based artist trained in photography and experimental cinema. French’s work ranges across mediums and approaches. In addition to photography he has also worked with found objects, shipping containers, trophies, spandex and constellations. In his interest in the structure of narrative and a focus on the relationship of the viewer to the world they pass through, French’s works aim to inspire repeated encounters. He has received commissions through the Seattle Office of Art & Culture, as well as recognition and awards from Artist Trust, and  4 Culture. He served as an artist-in-residence at Sound Transit where he developed “Stellar Connections”, the wayfinding pictograms for the original 13 light rail stations. He is currently lead artist in charge of temporary art at Sound Transit’s Roosevelt Station.