Artist Jennifer Dixon has been officially selected by the city of Kenmore to design and install artwork that will be integrated into three Walkways & Waterways (W&W) projects.
The projects in question are at Rhododendron, Log Boom and Squire’s Landing parks.
Councilmembers approved Dixon at the Jan. 27 council meeting via its consent agenda passage following a recommendation from the city’s Ad-Hoc Public Art Committee.
Dixon is an award-winning cross-disciplinary artist who has been behind several public art installations, exhibitions and performances on both local and international levels.
She will return to council this spring to share her designs.
“Jennifer has long explored ways in which places are transformed through both the creation of ephemeral works that change over time, and permanent works that express untold histories of a site,” Dixon’s website states. “Her process is close to that of an archaeologist — uncovering and discovering hidden layers and piecing together a narrative from the remains. In addition, she is committed to projects that allow art to be made accessible to the public in ways that are both subtle and unexpected.”
The city received 16 submissions from potential art candidates in December 2019. Ultimately, two artists, including Dixon, and one artist team, were interviewed, according to the Jan. 27 meeting agenda item.
According to meeting documents, the total public art funding amount available for the three W&W projects is about $143,400.
Once Dixon has presented her final design to the public art committee, the committee will then recommend it to council and request that the city manager authorize a fabrication contract.
The W&W projects are the result of a voter-approved bond measure that helps the city make transportation-related investments. Two affect walkways (68th Avenue Northeast and Juanita Drive Northeast); three impact waterways (Log Boom, Rhododendron and Squire’s Landing parks).
The Squire’s Landing project will result in, according to the city’s website, elevated walkways, viewpoints and trails. New boating facilities, parking and restrooms will also be added. In total, there will be 11 acres of new park development.
Log Boom enhancements will address beach expansion, picnic areas, hand-powered watercraft access and trails and viewpoints.
At Rhododendron Park, construction will result in new trails, a boardwalk and other environmental enhancements. It seeks, ultimately, to improve Sammamish River accessibility like the Squire’s Landing work.
In her letter of interest to the city, which was included in meeting documents, Dixon expressed her enthusiasm about the prospective project.
“I welcome this opportunity and look forward to the challenge of bringing alive to the public the transformative experience of collecting the urban environment to the natural settings of these three unique parks in Kenmore,” Dixon wrote.
To learn more about Dixon, go to jenniferdixon.net. For more background on the selection and on the W&W projects, go to bit.ly/2GtfnwA.
