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p 15FALL/WINTER 2011
This area of the City of Spokane is promoted as the “Sculpture Walk.” The Sculpture Walk was developed as a project of the Spokane Arts Commission (City of Spokane), the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department and Riverfront Park, the Spokane Public Facilities District, Spokane Public Library, and many community groups. The Sculpture Walk was formally adopted in 1988. The most recent plans for extension of the “walk” were adopted in July 2011 by City Council.
The Spokane River runs through the city. Riverfront Park was developed with an environmental theme during Expo ’74. At that time Spokane was the smallest city to ever host the world’s fair. The Sculpture Walk has as its centerpiece the Riverfront Park and the walk extends the length of the city from the UDistrict on the east to the Monroe Street Bridge. The west end of the Sculpture Walk - from the Monroe Street Bridge to the Sandifur Bridge – exists as a concept.
The Sculpture Walk is a tourist destination in and of itself but its proximity to the Spokane Convention Center, the INB Performing Arts Center, the Spokane Veteran’s Memorial Arena, area hotels, and downtown, make it a fine amenity for the whole city. Schools, universities, service clubs and community groups schedule tours and activities around the art.
ONE OF GREAT PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.
T HE SITE CHOSEN IS
The site chosen for the Sculpture Walk extension is one of great physical transformation and potential economic growth. Yes, it looks like a pile of dirt but soon Kendall Yards, a new urban community that will eventually consist of homes, retail shops, offices, and restaurants, will be developed.
Several artists are featured prominently in the collection of the Sculpture Walk, including the “granddaddy” of the Spokane art scene, Harold Balazs, and the “world’s oldest art making nun,” Sister Paula Turnbull.
Balazs is best known for the “Riverfront Rotary Fountain” which was created in collaboration with architect, Bob Perron, with sponsorship and support from Rotary 21 and numerous community members in 2005. This is a work of art but also functions as “a big sprinkler” for play in the hottest days of summer. Balasz also created the untitled columnar sculpture next to the INB Performing Arts Center that looks somewhat like a Japanese lantern and is often referred to as the “transcend the bullshit sculpture” because of the saying on top (should you be daring enough to crawl up there!) The Centennial Sculpture floats on a catamaran like structure with four anchors in the Spokane River and was commissioned by the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and its members for the centennial of the City of Spokane.
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