LANDSCAPE MEMORIES

While working as lead design team artist for Tacoma Link Light Rail I involved emerging artists, the performing arts community, curators from the Washington State History Museum, and the cultural leader of the Puyallup Tribe, among others. Successful planning for Link led to the reestablishment of a public art program in Tacoma and a special award from the city council. Deep creative research and engagement with Native American and “Anglo“ fisheries on Commencement Bay resulted in a series of monumental sculptures at the Washington State History Museum. A processional landscape inspired by Frederick Law Olmstead’s vision for Tacoma’s main street restored a section of riparian habitat to the center of the city. Close collaboration with Coast Salish Elder Phillip Red Eagle resulted in windscreens using poetry, historic maps and photography to provide context to the processional sculptures.

Artist Fernanda D’Agostino in collaboration with Coast Salish Elder Phillip Red Eagle and Nate Slater.

All decisions about sculptures in the landscape reflecting Coast Salish life ways were made with Puyallup Cultural leader Connie McCloud

Location/s: Tacoma Link Light Rail, WA, 2003