Endangered Public Art
Public art is created and made accessible for everyone to enjoy. It is also accessible to the elements, weathering, aging, pollution and vandalism. Fremont has many examples of publicly accessible art, some on public property, some on private, some in mixed circumstance. Likewise, there are different responsible parties for upkeep and maintenance. This post is focused on three public art projects that were initiated by the Fremont community through the Fremont Neighborhood Council, and whose futures are uncertain. These projects came into being through the interest and efforts of Fremont neighbors. Are there interested neighbors wiling to put in the time and effort in takes to keep these projects alive?
46th Street Mural Project
Artist: Todd Lown
This mural, designed by artist Todd Lown and brought to life by Urban Artworks along with neighborhood volunteers, was completed in August 2010. Quote from original documentation:
Fremont and Wallingford neighbors organized in 2009 to build community and improve the cityscape by constructing a lasting mural to brighten this underpass, used by thousands of cars and pedestrians every day. The mural links Upper Fremont and Wallingford, and deters graffiti and crime. The project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The fiscal sponsor is the Fremont Neighborhood Council.
This mural started with enough interest from community members to form a project Steering Committee and carry out a lot of work coordinating with public agencies, private sector donors, other community organizations and volunteers. Fifteen years later, the mural suffers from benign neglect and active vandalism, with increased frequency of tagging incidents.
There is no longer a coordinated group working to maintain the mural. For some years FAWN (Fremont Aurora Wallingford Neighbors) and other volunteers would clean the mural and make minor repairs. As the wall is SDOT property they will do graffiti abatement but that involves covering tags with grey paint which obscures the mural. Urban Artworks still has the original design and paint colors to restore the mural but this is a costly endeavor when dealing with frequent, minor tags.
Linda Clifton was Secretary of the original project committee and would like to see a new group of caring neighbors carry on the maintenance of this major public art project. A neighborhood ‘rapid response force’ of sorts to quickly paint over tags would be very helpful. A fund set up (and funding sources identified) to deal with longer-term restoration efforts is also needed to preserve this mural.
Utility Box Art
Artist: Kyler Martz
In 2013 FNC funded a pilot project for artwork on four utility boxes at Fremont intersections. Quite a few more were added through private sponsorships, all designed by Kyler Martz. Some still exist; others have been painted over or the boxes removed and replaced. Urban Artworks did the work on many of these as well.
The boxes were a favorite project of Judie Clarridge, longtime member of FNC and the Fremont Historical Society. The original stencil designs still exist on file; would this be a worthwhile project to renew, or to begin anew?
In 2024 PhinneyWood received a Department of Neighborhoods grant to put artwork on 18 signal boxes as a way to showcase different artists and beautify the neighborhood. Are there Fremonsters interested in working on a similar project?
Helen Tapp Memorial Bench
Artist: Veronica Truffaut
Designer: George Heidemann
This bench is on private property on Fremont Avenue south of 43rd Street. It was created between 1996-1998. It is deteriorating and faces property development pressures and needs to be moved to a new location and restored. The tiles shown are even more damaged now, but the book tiles read:
One Person Can Make a Difference
In loving memory of Helen Tapp, community activist, teacher, friend & Fremont Neighborhood Council co-founder
Quote from former community blog Fremocentrist archives:
Helen Tapp served with the FNC for many years, and she single-handedly held the all-volunteer organization together when membership fell off completely and the Board disbanded. She kept the files together until, as happened, some residents expressed an interest in reestablishing the organization.
Tapp also championed bus service along Fremont Avenue, between N 45th St and N 34th St. After her passing, the FNC decided to honor her with a bench installed along the bus route METRO did install, for a short period of time. The owner of Fremont Avenue Laundromat, Rupert Geister, gave his private property for the installation – and Veronica Truffaut installed the tile, putting the names of contributors all over the structure in the vine, the same as was done in the B.F. Day Tile Mural. Location: Near SW corner of the intersection of N 43rd St and Fremont Ave N.
Helen Tapp, co-founder of the FNC, was a woman dedicated to her family, friends, church and community. When she passed away, the FNC solicited funds and saw to the construction of a memorial bench in her name. Beckey gained permission from Fremont Avenue Laundromat owner, Rupert Geister, to place the bench on his property, local architect (and FNC Board Member) George Heideman designed the bench and Fremont Arts Council member Veronica Truffat designed the sunny tile work. The project involved volunteer efforts and financial donations from all over our community, coordinated by the FNC.
Helen Tapp preserved what was left of previous incarnations of the FNC and helped restart things in the 1980s or thereabouts when Fremont neighbors became interested again. These public art projects are also awaiting renewed interest from neighbors who are willing to put in the effort. It doesn’t happen without you.