Waymarking.com tells a tale of “Electrical Abuse,” a concrete sculpture here in Seattle. This isn’t your typical bronze statue. It’s art with a message about energy consumption.
Electrical Abuse is a concrete sculpture of an overloaded electrical outlet. It stands at the Bangor Street electrical substation. The substation has a lot of cool art. This piece might be the coolest.
Velma12 posted about the Electrical Abuse sculpture on Waymarking.com back in 2008. The sculpture measures approximately five feet wide and about four feet tall. It’s hard to miss once you spot it.
Electrical Abuse is a unique piece. It uses art to comment on our relationship with electricity. It makes you think about how much we use and sometimes overuse energy.
Seattle City Light’s 1% for Art funds probably supported this and other installations here. These funds help bring art into public spaces. They make art accessible to everyone.
Standing before Electrical Abuse, you might ponder its purpose. Is it a warning? A commentary? Or just a quirky piece to make you smile? Perhaps it’s a bit of all three. The sculpture encourages us to be more mindful of our energy habits. It also demonstrates how art can transform an otherwise ordinary space, like an electrical substation, into something engaging and thought-provoking. It’s a reminder that art can be found in unexpected places and can spark conversations about important issues. So, next time you’re near Bangor Street, take a detour. Check out Electrical Abuse and the other cool art at the substation. You might be surprised at what you discover.