Seattle Cloud Cover Sculpture

Has anyone ever walked on clouds? At the Seattle Cloud Cover, you can experience something close. This unique glass bridge and sculpture isn’t just a walkway. It’s an artistic interpretation of the ever-changing sky. Created by American artist Teresita Fernández, the Seattle Cloud Cover is located in the Olympic Sculpture Park. Completed in 2006, it was Fernández’s first permanent public art piece. The Seattle Cloud Cover is more than just glass and steel. It’s a 200-foot-long, 9-foot-tall structure made of laminated glass with a photographic design interlayer. This interlayer contains images of clouds, altered and colorized using computer software. The images, vibrant and translucent, are embedded within the glass itself. As you walk across the bridge, you’re surrounded by these cloud images, creating a sense of walking through the sky. Small holes are strategically placed throughout the glass. These holes provide glimpses of the city skyline and the surrounding park, creating a cinematic effect as you move. This interplay between the cloud images and the real-world views adds a unique dimension to the experience. The Seattle Cloud Cover also serves a practical purpose. It prevents people from throwing things or jumping onto the railroad tracks below. It’s a beautiful and artistic alternative to a chain-link fence. The Seattle Cloud Cover was funded by the Olympic Sculpture Park Art Acquisition Fund to commemorate the Seattle Art Museum’s 75th anniversary. So, next time you’re at the Olympic Sculpture Park, take a stroll across the Seattle Cloud Cover. Experience the sensation of walking through a colorful, ever-shifting sky, right here in the heart of Seattle. It’s a unique blend of art and function, a testament to human creativity and our fascination with the natural world.