A ripple of steel. That’s the first impression of Surge – Wiggle Posts. These aren’t just static beams. They seem to sway and undulate, even against the Seattle sky. Surge – Wiggle Posts stands at the northeast end of the Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel. The sculptures were completed in 2010. They are part of a larger public art project called “Surge”. The project also includes two other vignettes: “Falling Water” and “Bad Buoys”. Six hundred mosaic pavement dots are scattered throughout the site as well.
Surge – Wiggle Posts isn’t just metal. It’s a story told in steel and resin. Three sculptures rise from the channel outflow overlook. They mimic the shapes of life around the creek. Think of aquatic plants swaying in the current. Imagine the curve of an animal’s tail. Picture the wind making waves on the water’s surface. The artist, Benson Shaw, designed them as a celebration. They celebrate the revitalized downstream habitats, made healthier by the channel’s cleaner, slower flow.
The creation of Surge – Wiggle Posts is a story in itself. Artist Joe fabricated the core of each post by welding. DaVinci’s Workshop, Inc. meticulously cut the notched disks that adorn the sculptures. Steve Hirt’s workshop applied a 3/8″ rod “skin” to the posts, a process that took months. Finally, Scott Galvanizing Co. galvanized the posts. This protected them from the elements. Resin buttons and shrouds were added as finishing touches. The whole project involved a team of skilled artisans, each contributing their expertise to bring Shaw’s vision to life. Surge – Wiggle Posts stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the beauty that can emerge from industrial materials. It’s a unique blend of art and engineering, nestled within a project designed to improve the environment.