In
front of us was a statue called Surf II which has an interesting history.
The
distinctive steel sculpture, located just south of the 10th Street
Boat Launch docks, was Everett’s first piece of public art
when it was formally dedicated on July 8, 1976. However, Surf II
was initially installed on the east side of Colby Avenue close to
California Street in downtown Everett. It was part of a plan to
rejuvenate and beautify the downtown area, particularly Colby Avenue.
The sculpture was designed by Stanley Wanlass of Astoria, Oregon,
who was selected from about 40 artists for the commission.
Standing 14 feet at its highest point, the steel piece features
nine fingers-like pieces that jut upward to create an abstract shape.
Sculptor Wanlass said the design was inspired by his love for water
and trees.
The sculpture weighs 40,000 pounds and cost $18,900. At the Colby
site, it sat in a small pond surrounded by a mini amphitheater.
Surf II was controversial in its early days. Some defended it as
a downtown focal point that would help Everett strengthen its identity.
Other dubbed it “Big Foot” or “Whale’s Tail”
and scoffed at it as a waste of money. One disgruntled group even
hung the mayor in effigy on the sculpture.
Around 1983, Surf II was moved to its North Waterfront site, where
its abstract wave shape seems more compatible with the marine environment.'
[link]
|
|
