Two bronze children remain. They stand defiantly on logs near the West Seattle Bridge. This is the Walking on Logs statue. Originally four cheerful figures they once represented sheer joy. Phillip Levine the artist envisioned them as joyful dancers. They were part of a larger project Murals of West Seattle. This community-driven effort aimed to beautify the area.
The Walking on Logs statue was installed in 1996. It quickly became a beloved landmark. Local residents took pride in maintaining the area around the sculptures. This community stewardship was a condition for their installation. The city granted permission for the artwork in the right of way. Funding came from King County and the Department of Neighborhoods.
Unfortunately the joy of Walking on Logs has been marred by theft. In 2014 one of the original figures was stolen. It has never been recovered. Now another is missing. This leaves only two of the original four. Was this latest disappearance also a theft? Or was it removed for another reason? Investigations have yielded no clear answers. The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association have been contacted. They have no information regarding the missing statue.
The loss of these bronze figures is a blow to the community. They represent not just art but a shared history and collective spirit. The Walking on Logs statue is more than just a collection of bronze figures. It embodies a story of community engagement and artistic vision. The mystery surrounding the missing figures only adds to the statue’s intrigue. A reminder that even the most cherished works of art are vulnerable to the passage of time. And sometimes even to theft. Let us hope that the remaining figures will continue to stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of West Seattle.