Photo courtesy of Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson

Three commanding new figures now stand in a planter on Waterfront Park’s promenade, near Pier 58, gazing across Elliott Bay toward the gravesite of Chief Sealth, Seattle’s namesake. These carved cedar sculptures are the work of Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson (Puyallup) and represent a mother, father, and child, together titled Family. Anchoring the large “social intersection” space just south of Union Street on Alaskan Way, the artworks welcome visitors and remind us that the Seattle waterfront is located on Coast Salish homelands.

Peterson carved the bodies and heads separately and joined them to make sculptures that stand between 10 and 12 feet tall, not including their bases. They have textured, incised, and painted details, with each figure displaying variations of a streamlined form that unifies the trio. The artwork amalgamates older carving traditions and contemporary vision. Assisting Peterson was Adam McIsaacs, who has collaborated with many Native artists throughout Washington state. Together, they shaped the wood, giving each figure distinctive features, while maintaining a consistent sense of scale and gravity.

Each family member stands on a uniquely shaped concrete pedestal, supported by carefully engineered steel brackets. Eventually, these bases will receive powder-coated aluminum panels, cut with patterns drawn from Coast Salish imagery. Once the artwork is completed, we hope to hold a dedication event.

The intent of this work is to look beyond what differences there may be. These are not totems, they are not welcome figures. They are a sculpture form not many have witness of. They are here now and an extension of my understanding where form can be what the observer needs to see. Figures looking over the water.

Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson

Family was commissioned with Central Waterfront 1% for Art. The 1% for Art funds are derived from city sources, Friends of Waterfront Seattle philanthropy, and Waterfront Local Improvement District funds.

The project was Administered by the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects and the Office of Arts & Culture.

Artist Bio

Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson is a renowned Coast Salish artist and a member of the Puyallup Tribe who has been practicing his craft since 1996. He works in wood, glass, metal, and digital media, embracing historical and contemporary influences throughout.

Peterson is a pivotal figure in contemporary Coast Salish art traditions, with major installations throughout the Northwest, In 2008, Seattle Art Museum mounted S’abadeb, The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art and Arts, a major exhibition of historical and contemporary artwork which he contributed to. In 2010, he created the monumental Welcome Figure across from the Tacoma Art Museum on ancestral Puyallup land. He collaborated on a collection of re-imagined Coast Salish myths with writer Andrea Grant, entitled Killer Whale-Wolf & the Isle of Women. Most recently, he is working on a publicly sited installation for Kobe, Japan and three major works for his tribal community. The approach uses a mixture of traditional and modern materials to showcase that Native art can honor the past in the present with modern innovation.

“Native people have survived many obstacles with attempts to erase them from history,” says Peterson. “I am filled with pride knowing the work I make has a history that the ancestors of the land will relate to and the coming generation will grow up with, and bridge that gap as we continue to survive, as we always do.”

This is a blog post from the Seattle Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects.

Arts and culture play a central role on the waterfront. Responding to the history of the site, its ecology, economy and communities, publicly-sited art commissions help to create a sense of place that invite residents and visitors alike to visit the waterfront. Learn more about art in the Waterfront’s vision.

There are 9 publicly-sited artworks planned for the waterfront. Read our other posts about the completed pieces.