Art set to fill city's sidewalks
This is the first sculpture that will arrive to Moses Lake as part of the Sculpture Without Walls program, which will open in September.<br>Courtesy photo
Sculpture Without Walls program 'going full speed ahead,' backers say
MOSES LAKE — An expression of boundless art has landed in the city.
The first sculpture of the Sculpture Without Walls program is here, and although there is some way to go before any art makes it to the city's sidewalks, the people behind it are nothing less than thrilled.
"It's going real well," said Terry Mulkey, director of the city's Museum and Arts Center. "We got 11 artists who were accepted into the show."
Four of those artists have entered two pieces of art, bringing the total to 15 total pieces. The first one of those 15 is already in Moses Lake, a sculpture by Wenatchee artist Richard Warrington, which is stored at a boathouse near the old Swidberg Pool at McCosh Park. The deadline for artwork to be submitted is August 13.
From these 15, one will be chosen to be the first sculpture to be placed on the sidewalks of Moses Lake, starting on Sept. 3
Each year, the process will repeat itself. Therefore, filling the sidewalks of popular spots in Moses Lake will take a few years. The city has pledged around $7,000 each year for the purchase of the chosen sculpture. This amount constitutes around 70 percent of the total money needed to bring the sculpture to the city, with the rest of it coming from sponsors to the project.
The location for each sculpture has to be approved by the city, Mulkey said. Among the probable spots are McCosh Park, the intersection of Third and Broadway avenues and Neppel Landing.
The placing will favor areas with higher traffic of people over obscure places.
"We want them to be seen by people who drive and by the people who walk these routes," said Joe Rogers, another one of the main proponents of the program. Vandalism is a concern of the group, however, although they hope the maintenance and the risk of defacing constructions made of steel and rock will be minimal, although there is always the risk of graffiti.
Nevertheless, Rogers, Mulkey and the city are betting on this program to bring people to downtown Moses Lake and make the area more visible and more walkable, even if it takes a few years.
"It's going full speed ahead," Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Grigg said.