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Seattle Together brings Public Art Comes to Your Front Yard to neighborhoods around the city

by 30 Comments

One Big Communikitty by Shawn Parks

As Spring begins to bloom in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) has partnered with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Department of Transportation, to bring a little color and contemplation into neighborhoods across the city.

Public Art Comes to Your Front Yard commissioned 12 artists to create designs for 1,000, 18” x 24” yard signs with messages of hopeful engagement for the community. Beginning April 27, the signs will be installed in the public right-of-way, private yards, parks, roundabouts, local fire stations, and beyond. We will be featuring a new neighborhood each week on ARTS social media platforms using #SeattleTogether and hope you enjoy them from your neighborhood or afar.

The selected neighborhoods are:

  • Beacon Hill
  • Bitterlake
  • Broadview
  • Central Area
  • Chinatown/ID
  • Delridge
  • Georgetown
  • West Seattle
  • Lake City
  • Othello Square
  • Pioneer Square
  • Rainier Beach
  • South Park
  • And across multiple Seattle Housing Authority residential locations.

The commissioned artists are Amaranta Sandys, Asia Tail, Danielle Morsette, David Rue, Denise Emerson, Hailey Tayathy, Hugo Moro, Lauren Iida, Lin-Lin Mao, Nasrin Afrouz, Shawn Parks, and Vikram Madan.

Left to right: Lin-Lin Mao, Vikram Madan, Nasrin Afrouz, Hailey Tayathy,
David Rue, Lauren Iida

For the signs by Indigenous artists, Danielle Morsette (Suquamish), Hailey Tayathy (Quileute), and Denise L. Emerson (Diné and Skokomish Enrolled) provided graphic artworks. Lushootseed texts were translated by the Puyallup Tribal Language Program, as well as Angee Harrington (Suquamish), with resources from the Tulalip Lushootseed Department. Satpreet Kahlon combined these elements in the final designs, with help on messaging and outreach from Kimberly Deriana (Mandan/Hidatsa) and Asia Tail (Cherokee).

Public Art Comes to Your Front Yard is a program of Seattle Together, a  program that encompasses several initiatives, programs and partners that fosters relationships, shares resources, provides emotional support, strengthens social networks, and nurtures our community during this unprecedented moment in history.

Seattle Together is a partnership with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Office of Arts & Culture, Office of Economic Development, Seattle Public Library, and the Mayor’s Innovation and Performance Team, building a Citywide community response aimed at supporting, uplifting, and celebrating the enormous goodwill, generosity, and empathy that has come from our Seattle community and neighborhoods in the wake of this COVID-19 pandemic.

Comments

  2. I would be happy to host a sign in my private yard. While not in the Lake City neighborhood, I live near there.
    Please let me know if this is an option.

  5. Please consider using my front yard located at 1719 S Lander St. as a site for one of these pieces. It has good visibility and lots of pedestrian and cycling traffic. When 18th Ave S closed yesterday, we created a pop-up park as a rest and play station for people passing this intersection. The park’s focus and content is still in development with input from neighbors and the Beacon Neighborhood Group.

    Thank you!

  7. Thank you so much, the artists did an incredible job. Unfortunately at this time we don’t have a way for you to order a sign, but will keep people posted if this changes.

  8. Thank you Caryn,
    At this time we are delivering the signs through select channels under the “Stay Home” ordinance. We prioritized these neighborhoods for distribution both through a race and social justice lens to those communities most impacted by this public health crisis. If/when we know about distribution to individuals, we will share that information.

  9. At this time we are not able to sell the signs, but if things change we will let you know.

  11. I live in west Seattle across from Sansilo school. Would love to host a sign – and:or hope that someone in my neighborhood is hosting a sign.
    I also am interested in the poster that has the Puyallup Tribal language program “take care of yourself” sign.

  13. Greetings!

    I would love a sign for my yard but do not live in the designated neighborhhods. Any chance I can get a sign?

  15. I like the Lauren Lida black and white poster. I’d be happy to have that in my Lake City yard. =)

  17. What awesome artwork !
    I would love to host one of your signs in my yard in SeaTac. We do not have anything representing here !

  19. It’s simple. If you want a sign for your yard, simply commission (pay) an artist to make an original yard sign for you!

  21. who did the hand lettering on the rainbow sign…the artist hailey? it’s gorgeous!!!

  23. Yes! Let’s have signs for sale and all
    Proceeds go to artists and those in need

  24. I would also love to host a sign and happy to “donate” money to support more artist works and projects. Thank you for this awesome project !!

  26. Is it possible to buy a sign, with the funds collected going to a food bank or to another needed project.
    I live in Ballard and I think those pieces of art would help to brighten up peoples daily walks.

  27. I too would love to host one of the lovely piece of artwork in my yard. I live in Seward Park and our neighborhood is not represented. Thank you!

  28. I would like to purchase several signs to donate to neighbors and friends who are in need of support. Please can someone help this to happen!

  29. I live on 35th Ave SW in West Seattle and would love to host a sign. I am also willing to support the program/artists by purchasing a sign.

  30. I live in Bitterlake and would be proud to host a “Take Care” Lushootseed sign. I am a Puyallup descendant.

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