Envision a cedar cone scale. Now, picture it magnified into a monumental sculpture. That’s Ming Fay’s Pillar Arc, standing proudly in the plaza of the United States Courthouse. You will find it in downtown Seattle. It graces the corner of Stewart Avenue and Seventh Avenue.
Ming Fay created Pillar Arc in 2004. This cast aluminum sculpture is more than just a pretty shape. It’s deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest’s history and spirit. Fay chose the cedar tree for its significance. It has spiritual and historical ties to this region.
The Olympic Peninsula boasts some of the largest western red cedars. Native American communities have used the cedar for centuries. They used its bark for weaving. They also used its durable wood for building longhouses and canoes.
Fay transformed a tiny cedar-cone scale. He made it into Pillar Arc. It now emphasizes the inherent beauty of the form. According to the artist, it shows nuance and poetry. Pillar Arc reaches the stature of a tree.
Look closely at Pillar Arc. Do you notice something? The sculpture has an anthropomorphic quality. Its upright posture and elegant curves suggest a human figure. The well-balanced Pillar Arc embodies the courthouse’s function. It does so metaphorically.
Ming Fay often creates oversized sculptures of plants. He also makes sculptures of fruits and vegetables. Sometimes he depicts seedpods and shells. He uses various materials including metal and wood. He also uses paper, glass, and wire. Fay arranges them in room-sized installations. These are visually spectacular. They are densely layered with meaning. These sculptures represent nourishment. It is physical, psychological, and spiritual. The botanical realm provides it.
Fay’s art includes humor. It has wide-ranging cultural allusions. His gigantic plants remind people of science-fiction movies. Think of mysterious islands and forbidden planets. Jumbo fruit sculptures evoke Hieronymus Bosch’s surreal Garden of Earthly Delights.
Fay’s sculptures play with traditional Chinese meanings. Peaches symbolize longevity. Cherries represent love. Pears stand for prosperity. Fay adapts these for his own metaphorical uses. Overall, Fay’s work reveals wonder. It also shows complexity. Even the humblest natural forms are part of our ecosystem. That ecosystem is vast.
So, as you stand before Pillar Arc, consider its journey. It started as a tiny cedar cone scale. It became a monumental tribute. It is a tribute to nature’s beauty. It’s a symbol of the Pacific Northwest’s heritage. It embodies the spirit of Seattle.