August 26, 2009
The last Guerilla Artwork I remember was 'way back in 2001 when members of an artist group called Some People created a Monolith and erected it at Magnuson Park. For a few days, a mystery surrounded the travelling Monolith. But I digress...
 
Last night the Seattle Times made mention of a new Guerilla Art display at Gasworks Park which had magically appeared sometime on Monday night. I could not resist getting up early and heading there this morning.
 
August 27 Update:
The artist has stepped forward, saying she was 'amazed and overwhelmed by the response to the art.

"I spent some time both in the afternoon and evening standing with the crowd, watching their reactions, and I am overflowing with joy," said Cyra Hobson, 31, in an e-mail sent Wednesday night.' ( Seattle Times link )

 ( Here ) is a wonderful page on her website about 'Anew'

At first I saw nothing but the skyline and Lake Union. I wondered if I'd missed them. As I continued to walk around the park I noticed a small group of people with cameras. This looked promising!
 
Hooray, there they were, just as reported - the small group of people and shells, framed by the Aurora Avenue bridge.
 
The gold-colored, full-sized standing man drew my eye first. Made of papier-mâché he seemed to be auditioning for the (in)famous Pepto-Bismol commercial. The pose was remarkably lifelike.
 
The poor fellow seemed to be in some sort of distress. It made me wonder if he wished he was back in his shell. Heh, I can relate to that.
 
 
The main man is surrounded by a group of colored shells. Several people are emerging from them, like this one.
 
His face is upturned towards the sun, and his expression is quite satisfied and relaxed (I think, anyway).
 
Here's another one at a different stage. I could almost feel his energy. The wooden plaque to his right is a message from the artist:
'Anew is gifted to the citizens of Seattle in the spirit of awakening. Each of us has shells to break through, parameters to look past and wills to exercise. Arise and stand and then start moving.'

'PS: if still here I will remove once the rains return.'
 
Perhaps the struggle to leave his shell is difficult for him. Or perhaps he's tired out.
 
The last one is just beginning to emerge.
 
Strewn between the people were a number of unhatched shells.
 

I couldn't help thinking that from a distance, the group looked like a bunch of campers getting out of their sleeping bags after a night on the shore of Lake Union.

In spite of the artist's promise to remove the pieces before the rains come, the art will be gone on Thursday left until Labor Day. The artist didn't fill out the proper paperwork.

It was a fun surprise and I'm happy I was able to see it.

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