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We dress up our statues here. It began after Waiting for the Interurban was installed in the Fremont district in 1978. The cast aluminum set of five figures was named for the defunct rail line that at one time connected the various neighborhoods of Seattle. But you can’t have five people just standing in the meridian of the street being all gray and stuff...decoration is required! Soon these folks became a canvas for guerrilla artists, or anyone else with a message to promote...or some whimsy to express. A tradition is born!
This custom came to my area of the city in 1986 when Walking on Logs. was installed. It was done by sculptor Phillip Levine, a local artist. It was part of a larger goal to bring art into the area, an effort that also included murals in the business district of West Seattle. The area around it was to be maintained by “the community”.
Girl Scout Cookies, yum! I like the Thin Mints.
But unlike that piece in Fremont, this installation is situated in a sort of no-man’s-land on the hillside of the roadway that connects the West Seattle neighborhood with downtown. It’s sort of our front door, yet due to the difficulty in getting to it and given the terrain, it often looked a little shabby.
The site is on land that is controlled by the Seattle Department of Transportation, and they usually have other priorities rather attempt to maintain the hillside. The hillside is constantly wet as water seeps down in its constant quest to reach sea level.
A four-lane roadway in front of it makes it a challenge to reach the site, and is only accessible coming from one direction. There is a gate located on the street above, but it is locked for the most part, and the path from that is dangerously close to the road.
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Yet still folks come with their T-shirts and signs, using the small turnout on the side of the road, and must be aware of the traffic that goes whizzing by.
This was a tad controversial
The man who assisted in getting the installation done dutifully tended the site, but as he was pushing 90, it was getting to be difficult for him. In 2010, a group formed to take on the maintenance of the site, and to put in plants that could withstand the soppy conditions. Somehow I found myself in this group of gardeners and horticulturalists. (I was coming home one evening and I passed by the meeting location. Having participated in a clean-up of that hillside a few years earlier, I was curious to see what the plans were...I was caught and couldn’t escape.) My contributions consisted of smiling at meetings, and donating my labor as we did periodic clean-ups.
With the help of one of our members, a landscape architect, our committee put forth a scheme to improve the place. We got a grant from the city and put in trees and other plants to better accentuate the sculptures. While some of the trees survived the difficult conditions, others did not and the full effect was not realized. Then in 2014, one of the figures was stolen and never recovered, taken for the metal no doubt. (See the preview picture in the YouTube above.) It was sort of an unnecessary wheel, stuck further up the hill than the rest. In a way, it didn’t belong, and it had been remarked by some that four is an unusual number for a composition. But still, not cool. A slap in the face.
Our committee closed shop in 2015, and donated the tools and the remains of our funds to other non-profits. So while our efforts were not 100% successful, I think that we did some improvements. Others are carrying forth.
Do you dress statues, or otherwise “occupy” your public art?
Our CUA team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events. We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in. If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Communities in a full screen mode. The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, kosmail navajo for instructions.
Comment if you have events that would be of interest to the readers of Daily Kos in your city or state?
navajo maintains this event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries about your event or if you have changes or additions to events listed below.
RSVPS
1. Bill in Portland Maine
2. Common Sense Mainer
3. navajo
4. markm667
5. vicki
6. Kristen Michelle
7. Laurie Jones Breakwell
8. smileycreek
9. paradise50
10. Ed Tracey
11. side pocket
12. Mrs. side pocket
13. Richard Cranium
14. YellowDogInGA
15. DebtorsPrison
16. brillig
17. mik
18. thatkid
19. K2
20. LuLu
21. moodyinsavannah
22. norm
23. Egberto Willies
24. Chris Reeves
25. Susan Grigsby
26. spedwybabs
27. Dee Austin
28. Pam Miles
29. Corrie Wikoff
30. Cindi Branham
31.
32. jlms qkw
33. Larisa Thomason
34. evcoren
35. shermanesq
36. doggie269
37. gizmo59
38. BruinKid
39. Steve Stearns
40. loggersbrat
41. Walter Einenkel
42. Susan Gardner
43. Faith Gardner
44. Meteor Blades
45. nancyjones
46. edgery
47. SanDiegoDem
48. Will Rockafellow
49. Laura Clawson +high chair
50. Joan McCarter
51. Wagatwe Wanjuki
52. Drew Linzer
53. Mara Schechter
54. Michael Langenmayr
55. Kelly Macias
56. Gabe Ortiz
57. Monique Teal
58. scyellowdogdem
59. Kimm Lett
60. Rachel Gutauskas
61. Jeff Singer
62. Carolyn Fiddler
63. Rachel Colyer
64. Shayera Tangri
65. Irna Landrum
66. Carissa Miller
67. Jennifer Hayden
68. Susan Smith
69. JustOneMoreDad
70. Mrs. JustOneMoreDad
71. JustOneMoreDad’s kid
72. BeninSC
73. KathyinSC
74. annrose
75. shanikka
76. DAH
77. susans
78. gmats
79. 714day
80. Sandy on Signal
81. SouthDem
82. Bouapha Toommaly
83. watercarrier4diogenes
84. Chrislove
85. TrueBlueMajority
86. Wee Mama
87. peregrine kate
88. Thinking Fella
89. Denise Oliver-Velez
90. Jon Sitzman
91. Leslie Salzillo
92. Frank Vyan Walton
93. Dan Carlson
94. Sher Watts Spooner
95. Sher Watts Spooner’s guest
96. mommyof3
97. momomia
98. Jonaya Leek
99. Ann Coren
100. David Beard
101. Alicia
102. Curtis
104. lam2b2g
105. grapes
106. Joanne
107. TheKickingDonkey
108. TheKickingDonkey’s dad
109.
MAYBEES :
MsSpentYouth
scyellowdogdem’s nephew Matt
jotter
aha aha
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DAILY KOS CAUCUS
THURSDAY AFTERNOON, August 10th, 2:30 PM in the Piedmont Room
Join other readers of Daily Kos to talk about the community and activism at the site. Daily Kos Staff will be in attendance to answer your questions.
Session led by: Neeta Lind, Daily Kos Director of Community
President: Will Rockafellow
Activism Team: Amanda McKay, Carissa Miller, Irna Landrum, Kimm Lett, Michael Langenmayr, Monique Teal and Rachel Colyer.
Editorial Team: Susan Gardner, Joan McCarter, Laura Clawson, Meteor Blades, Kelly Macias and Gabe Ortiz.
Elections Team: David Nir, Jeff Singer and Carolyn Fiddler.
Social Media Team: Faith Gardner, Jen Hayden, Walter Einenkel and Wagatwe Wanjuki.
randallt and DKos Asheville are planning an August meet-up at Mount Mitchell State Park.
Latest diary: DKos Asheville Open Thread: Mount Mitchell Meetup
When: Saturday, August 12, 2017, 11:00 AM — 6:00 PM
Where: Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 State Highway 128, Burnsville, NC 28714
Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
* I T I N E R A R Y *
FRIDAY:
Casual evening gathering at Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East for welcoming travelers from afar.
SATURDAY:
11:00 AM-2:00 PM Meet at Mount Mitchell Restaurant, have a long lunch and social gathering at the facility.
2:00-3:00 PM Drive1.5 mi to the top of the mountain for the observation deck, light trails, and other features.
3:00-4:30 PM Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway down to the Folk Arts Center if time allows.
4:30-6:00 Drive a few minutes to the first Asheville exit, turn right and see Mama’s and Beer just ahead on the left. Beverages and light fare.
RSVPS
1. randallt
2. Joieau
3. Gordon20024
4. Otteray Scribe
5. Burns Lass
6. Lamont Cranston
7. Christian Cano of conoforcongress
8. Anthony, Political director for canoforcongress
9. Gary Norton
10. Connie Norton
11.
MAYBEES :
eeff
Zen Trainer
Tex Dem
VeloVixen
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Data & Democracy 2018 Conference
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2017, 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Venue: PSI Theatre at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham, NC
Theme and Goal: To provide an opportunity for southeastern (and particularly North Carolina) progressive activists + volunteer professional technologists to connect and to think through, together, what are the opportunities and the needs for "data-driven activism" (activists and technologists working together) in preparation for the 2018 election, with an emphasis on voting rights and get-out-the-vote (GOTV).
Program Format: Keynote speech, followed by a combination of mini-presentations (15-20 min + Q&A) highlighting activists' use of data, plus panel discussions on the broad topics of Coalition Building, Data and Activism for GOTV, and Strategy. Panel discussions will be unscripted conversations, seeded as necessary by a facilitator's questions and audience input. Weather permitting, an extended lunch break at a close-by urban mini-park will provide audience members and speakers the opportunity for freewheeling discussions.
Registration: Admission by pre-registration only, at DataDemocracyConference.org (coming soon!). Admission limited to 200, first come first served. The $35 registration fee will be waived for lower-income activists on request.
Kosmail DocDawg (organizer) for more information.
Triangle Kosmopolitans are invited to attend
VIRGINIA KOSSACKS!
L-R: Standing, Cindy from CodeBlue, Clio2, Linda, Elizabeth, Squireforyou, Andy, AnacharsisClootz
Kneeling: DrLori, Barkley and Gordon20024
State Senator Dr. Irene Aguilar (in orange) chatting with Kossacks and neighbors. Jenn (next to Senator Aguilar) and Leftcandid (on the right in blue shirt) started the Caffeinating Liberally group.
L-R: Some Fella, Mr. Maudlin, Ojibwa, state of confusion,
Mrs. Mhosz, Mhosz, Mother Mags,
(photographer; Maudlin)
E P I C - E P I C - E P I C ! ! !
L-R: navajo, side pocket, Dartagnan, Glen The Plumber, TLO, kimoconnor and Jakedog42 met at the Beach Chalet on June 20th in San Francisco to welcome Dartagnan on his visit to the Bay Area. Wunnerful time!
Colorado: Monday Evenings, Michigan: Thursday evenings, North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern, Missouri: Wednesday Evenings, Kansas: Monday Evenings