"Erratic" and "Sky Painting" Art - Have You Seen It?

The Erratic outdoor artwork is located on Leary Avenue just south of the Matador.  When looking east you'll see it during the day.   Is it safe at night to walk through the Erratic to activate the colored lights? Have you ever seen the colored lights?  The City of Redmond says:  

"Five thousand years ago Redmond, Washington, was buried under 3,000 feet of ice. Today we rarely if ever, see large boulders—glacial erratics—that were left in the wake of the retreating ice.  On the new Redmond Central Connector park, the city built their own erratic in the form of historical art.  

When the BNSF Railroad left Redmond, it left behind miles of rails, mounting plates, and spikes.  3,000 steel plates were salvaged from the BNSF Railroad that once crossed the site; these form the cladding for the Erratic‘s skin. Motion detectors inside the glass fronts activate colored LED lights, delighting passersby with an interactive experience."  

The Erratic was created by artist John Fleming,  It was commissioned in 2013 for the Redmond Central Connector in celebration of Redmond’s Centennial.  Mr. Flemming also painted SKY PAINTING on a large downtown parking lot (you got to see it to believe it.) He installed railroad "Signals" art in the downtown Linear Park.  

Seven years after the Erratic was installed (2013) it had to be moved because Sound Transit's new downtown Light rail station needed the site.  Sound Transit paid a fixed amount and the city picked up the remainder totaling ~ $1,000,000.    Watch this 2-minute construction video and you'll see why the relocation was so expensive. 

Posted by Bob Yoder, 8/31/2024

Find an archive of Erratic articles and opinions here, including a "Letter To The Editor." 

Redmond's "ERRATIC" Outdoor Art installation Will Be Relocated

Below are two pictures of Redmond's Centennial "ERRATIC" art installation.  It was constructed with railroad plates to recognize Redmond's status as a railroad town.  It's called ERRATIC to recognize that glaciers shaped Redmond.  Erratics are huge boulders left behind by glaciers.  

At the January 8th Council meeting Staff announced owing to light rail impacts the ERRATIC wil be moved from it's present location on 166th near Redmond Town Center to "Gilman Landing" south of the Matador near Leary Way.  Sound Transit will pay $576,000 towards its re-location.  The City will move it....a laborious job. The original cost to the City for the art was $115,000.  

A public record request in December, 2019 revealed the total estimated cost for relocation is $616,300 - though, the exact relocation cost won't be known until it's completion in June of 2020. The  request also revealed part of the relocation $40,000 will be funded by Redmond Parks CIP.  Rumors have it the total relocation cost to the city will be close to $1M. 

Bob Yoder

2/24/2020

Letter To Editor: The Downtown "glacial erratic" Sculpture is a Monolith .

Dede originally published this as a comment under "Musings on Redmond Arts"  

By Dede M Falcone

To me the Downtown "glacial erratic" outdoor art sculpture is a monolith.  First it's position is very poorly placed.  It is at the junction of three roads, the East side of the sculpture (looking west) is obscured by trees. On the north side it can only be viewed driving east, due to a one way road.  And on the southside it is visible for only a few moments once you have driven through the intersection.

I feel that the concept is lacking in depth, and that though the intention is to speak to the past of Redmond as once being Glacial, I hardly think that's a unique enough descriptor for our fair city. Last I heard, most of the Eastside had Glaciers.

No, I don't think the Glacial erratic is an effective use of the "pot of money" for the arts and artists of this burgeoning place, nor do I believe that particular work is terribly interesting, inventive, conceptual or inspiring.

I know that Art has suffered greatly through municipal and educational cuts and austerity measure from recent economic crises, but I think a more thoughtful, more equitable distribution of Art-funding will act as a boilerplate to actual art creation, exhibition, sales and public interaction.  I think the spirit of art is held within the people who make it, love and celebrate it.  Right now none of those "things"* could be definitive of the kinds of art works which have been commissioned thus far.

We (the public) simply have no connection to that artwork nor do we know how to connect to it.  That is the problem. It is missing the human touch of connectivity to its environment, to this culture, to the activities. It's just kind of stagnant.

Anyway, thanks for letting me offer my expertise here.  I hope it's taken in the right light as well intended that we learn from past mistakes.

Editor's note:  children and adults are warned not to climb the Erratic.  

Dede Falcone's opinion was originally published in "Friends."

ERRATIC Art Relocation Costs A Million Dollars

"As shown on the spreadsheet we provided, the total (city) cost to relocate the Erratic Artwork, including landscaping, was $486,756.  Sound Transit has agreed to pay for all the relocation costs up to $576,300."

Regards,

Tess

Tess Wilkinson

CIP Coordinator

City of Redmond

425-556-2434

8/18/2020

Total costs for the relocation is $1,060,054 including land.  The original construction cost for this ERRATIC art was  $155,000.  The art was relocated because it was built too close to the light rail easement! It's new location is south of the Matador near Leary.  Residents pay taxes to Sound Transit so there is no free lunch here.  Bob Yoder, 8/29

Updated: Musings on Redmond Arts

There's art and then there's entertainment and a mix of both. I'd like to see a night club in Redmond where we can dance and listen to live music all year long. Hopefully the OneRedmond Foundation, Chaired by John Stilin, will consider promoting this and similar kinds of downtown entertainment.  

Soulfood Coffee House is Redmond's go-to-place to enjoy musicians and artists like Clint McCune, jazz, an open mic, poetry readings, etc. Would Soulfood go so far as to include East Indian music, etc?  Of course, that would be up to the free market, not the city "Arts and Culture" committee.   

For years Clint and Sara Peflrey's Soulfood Coffee House was "the heart and soul" of Redmond.  I'll never forget the "opening night" for Redmond's first poet laureate. She performed at Soulfood and the TV media covered it region-wide. Council Member Hank Margeson was there, everyone. 

When Clint and Sara sold Soulfood they left somewhat of a cultural void. 

For several years it seemed the city wandered seeking a new harbor for our "soul." Will it be the Downtown Park? The Historic Core?  Both?

I like how the city is installing outdoor art and memorabilia representative of our history.  The "erratic" representing the glacial age, was constructed of old railroad rail plates. The Linear Park has a railroad Signal installation. The Mayor says a totem pole installation is planned near Lower Bear Creek.  There's a small park with wood Indian carvings near the Slough. The original school bell is installed (but on an obscure exterior wall of the Public Safety building.)  A stone marker sits by Perrigo Springs -- the first water source for Indians and pioneers. The Downtown clock tower was renamed Naomi Hardy Clock Tower.

Is it remotely possible the city, with our emphasis on culture. will install outdoor East Indian art, European art, Chinese art, ecetera?  After a botched City Hall installation designed by Portland artist (the water feature wouldn't work) the city fortunately found John Fleming from Ballard for the erratic installation. The erratic was first promoted as a place for kids to play. Today it sits near the future transit corridor, in an obscure RTC location, under-appreciated and little-used accept for the few kids that find it. Later, Mr. Fleming did the interesting railroad Signal installation. Please more outdoor art in the future, especially in our developing Downtown Park and Urban Centers.   
   
Bob Yoder, opinion
Listen to Clint McCune's music

Downtown art

UPDATED:  Yesterday, I was fortunate to spend an hour with a city planner to talk about outdoor art.  I'm very concerned about the rapid pace of urbanization in our city and how overly dense and uniformly green the downtown is starting to look.  Where's the art?  The pace of growth and demands to plan for it appear overwhelming.  Can the city keep up?   

Redmond is special to the Northwest in that we have a very diverse population of residents from all over the world...and we become more diverse with every year.  Art is especially crucial for us because of our diversity.  It offers a great way to connect and engage us in conversations and activities. We get to know and accept each other through art.   

The Downtown Park has a great opportunity to be our centerpiece for art.  I'm concerned that too few of us have participated in workshops on its design.  I pray and trust the city will make the right decisions. 

Frazer Court is a private development that installed this
interactive art.  See the stones on the pedestals?
You can move them around.  

What about the private developments -- those 6 -9 story apartment buildings and 4 hotels? Flowered pots and green shrubbery smartly dress up the buildings, but where's the art to engage us with each other as we walk down the sidewalks?  Look (left) at the attractive and inviting art of Frazer Court. It's interactive, too! Doesn't it look cool? Unfortunately, when you look around town very few, if any other developers are installing art. Have you seen any artscapes?  The city needs to come up with an incentive program soon before it's too late.
  

Kudos to the council, staff and community volunteers for bringing art to the Redmond Central Connector trail.  SIGNALS is prominent, interesting and easy to understand.  It creates a great place for us to interact and get to know each other.  Just look at So Bizarre! 

SIGNALS

SKY PAINTING ($95k) and the ERRATIC ($115k) on the other hand are different. Was there ever a workshop to involve us at the ground level of these projects?  The city had to spend $1M to move the ERRATIC off the light rail easement to Leary Way gateway (good choice)  Even though these art pieces are on the trail and very large, few people have seen them.  Do you know where they are?  

The city planner said they will install some temporary art in the Downtown Park and neighborhood parks.  This ought to give the planners some "wiggle room" as they await a response from the viewing public.  Phase 2 of the Redmond Trail Connector is underway.  I hope there's enough time to hold workshops so we can participate in this part of the trail.  I'm concerned there's not enough time or resources to hold another workshop for the Downtown Park.  The demands on staff are intense.  More and better delegation to the city commissions is called for.  

Bob Yoder, opinion  

*The workshop for the Bike Park was very useful in the design.  (Its location was taxing.)  

Redmond's "Downtown Cultural Corridor"

"Seagull on a Post"
Leary Way & 159th PL NE

UPDATED, 7/28:  Take a look at our city planners' aspirations for the "Downtown Cultural Corridor" as found in their 39-page Master Plan.  Their number one aspiration is: "Cultural arts around every corner, 18 hours a day."

Every corner?  So far, other than "Seagull on a Post" and the ERRATIC there isn't one art sculpture on a Corridor street corner, cross walk, sidewalk promenade, roundabout or gateway. Can you find any?  If so, please comment below this post.  

Seven years ago, ten community volunteers led by city staffers decided on a general strategy to bring art to Redmond Way and Cleveland Street and the connecting streets that provide north-south connections, aka "Cultural Corridor."  One of their strategies was to work with developers as partners in implementing the plan.  Another was to complete a demonstration art project as part of the Couplet Conversion. 

It is now 2016 and what has been done with the developers to bring art to Cleveland and Redmond Way? Have code issues been addressed (another strategy). Incentives offered? Has anything been accomplished in the last seven years from this Master Plan?

The city ought to hold public workshops and forums to help us participate in major "streetscape" art planning and design for this corridor.  Just maybe, we could bring something to the table. (After all, it's our town.)  Staff is now consumed with traffic updates of the Redmond Way couplet project.  Is there enough time left to implement the Corridor plan and start to engage us in it's design? The downtown has grown so fast since 2009; can the city catch up or is it already too late?  In five years, look around, and we'll know.  

Bob Yoder

A city webpage on the corridor >>

"Public Works Art" is all over the downtown and neighborhoods - with much more to come

1% of  expenditures for new city sidewalks, bridges, parking lots, the downtown corridor and other Public Works construction projects are allocated for art installations. That's right!  1% goes to art!  "Public Works art" is in our downtown and in our neighborhoods -- big and small.  This heron was found on a sidewalk near the Leary Way bridge. Salmon artwork is under the 90th Street Bridge. This "brass leaf" art on a traffic-calming sidewalk is only a few steps from where I live.  A lot of the smaller "street art" was installed during the Ive's administration. The large "Icicle" art in from the City Hall was Ive's.  Marchione's public works art is a huge undertaking. It includes the ERRATIC, SIGNALS, and the SKY PAINTING parking lot. Of great significance, Public Works art is planned for the Cultural Corridor build-out of the couplet conversion and probably the Downtown Park. Wouldn't it be nice to know what they're planning for art there so we could give the planners some input?

Bob Yoder
photos by

How can we have a say in what public art the city chooses?    e-mail Art's Administrative Manager Ms. Rubenacker at jarubenacker@redmond.gov. 

Updated: Notes On 4/23 Council Meeting

STAFF'S 2018 "YEAR IN REVIEW" 

Planner Carol Hellman presented private development stats. 

The following were built in 2018:

  >167 Single Family Homes

  >2025 Mixed-use family units

  >129,643 sf Commercial space 

Affordable housing units, at 80% AMI or less:  

   >130 units were built in 2018; Total of 693 affordable units now.

   >This year 60 units are in the pipeline; 150 units are in planning stages;  Thus, we may have a total of 903 affordable units by year end.  

   

Jon Spangler, Engineer and Manager of the Construction Division described major Public Works projects:  

  

>86% of the 2018 projects were under budget saving the city $2.5M.  This was accomplished without a Public Works Director.  (Our Fire Chief in now running Public works and his Deputy is running the Fire Department.) Councilmember Steve Fields was concerned about various staff vacancies and thanked Mr. Spangler for his fine work despite their lack of a Director.

    

>Mr.Spangler described key construction projects planned for 2019:  

    1)  Relocate the ERRATIC artwork from the future light rail track to a spot near the Matador. ST-3 will pay for it. (Indirectly, we pay for it.)  The relocation is estimated at $1M.

    2)  Unfortunately, Willows Road will have to be re-paved from 90th to 124th starting this summer. Sections of the re-paving will require extensive construction. Two culverts have to be installed next year. As Councilember Margeson indicated, this could be a traffic nightmare. Facebook will lease offices on Willows Road, adding to the traffic.  Councilmember Myers reiterated the value of a large 10-minute community project nearby (which will add to the construction traffic.)

    3) A 12-16 month project in the Fall to construct a tunnel under NE 40th to connect the SR520 ped/bike trail to Microsoft and the City.  

    4)  Rehabilitation the Cleveland Street sidewalk from 164th to 168th, owing to tree damage.  

    5)  A complicated pavement and private sewer line project on 187th. 

    6)  Installation of two sewer pump stations. 

Council President Angela Birney wasn't in attendance at this Study Session or the prior Council Committee meeting. V.P David Carson ran the Study Session.  

-- Bob Yoder, 4/25  
    Source:  4/23 Council Study Session & Council Committee of the Whole meeting.      

OPINION: Central Connector Parking Lot Art

Credit/ City of Redmond, WA,

THE CITY REMOVED PICTURES FROM THEIR WEBSITE OF ALL THEIR ICONIC OUTDOOR ART including "SKY PAINTING" where a large parking lot was painted for all to see from a helicopter. I like "SIGNALS" in the linear park but the taxpayers will have to spend $1M to relocate the "ERRATIC" from the light rail line. 

Construction On Redmond's East Link Light Rail Speeds Along

 
As you can see, the station and track are elevated.  The station will likely be located across from the Redmond Town Center @ 166th.  

 

A segment of the Redmond Central Connecter Trail runs from Overlake Urgent Care to Redmond Town Center. Some of the light rail track will be installed on this segment.  The controversial ERRATIC outdoor art was installed at this corner and then moved at great expense to a more suitable Leary Way location.  

-- Bob Yoder / report and photos

5/25/2021

Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event Schedule, December 2, 4 - 8 p.m.

 Getting Around Redmond Lights 2023

Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event Schedule

Bundle up and bring the entire family for an evening of winter fun at the Redmond Lights Kick-Off Event this Saturday, Dec. 2. From 4 – 8 p.m., the luminary trail will connect Downtown Park and Redmond Town Center by way of the Redmond Central Connector. Both sites will host ongoing performances, craft activities, and more!  

Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Family Activities
  • Light Fashion Show, 6:00 p.m. at Downtown Park
  • Family Light Promenade, 6:30 p.m. at Downtown Park
  • Redmond Town Center Kids Coloring Activity, all month long at Redmond Town Center
  • Photos with Santa, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Redmond Town Center
  • Face Painting, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Downtown Park
  • Crafting, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Downtown Park and Redmond Town Center
• Performances
  • Downtown Park, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (details below)
  • Redmond Town Center, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (details below)
  • Luminary Trail, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (details below)
• Luminary Trail, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. (route below)
• Silent Disco, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Downtown Park
• Community Activity Booths, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Downtown Park and Redmond Town Center
• Free glow items (with an original $10 receipt from any Redmond Town Center tenant), 4 p.m.  - 8 p.m. at Redmond Town Center

District Goes To New School Board System

The school district is using a new platform (BoardDocs) for providing government information on  School Board activities, their meetings, meeting agendas, the extended agenda, Board videos, and the like.  To shed some light on the platform, below are some helpful links:  

To find "BoardDocs:"  

https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/lwsd/Board.nsf/vpublic?open

Monthly Regular Board meetings [erratic] are televised on Comcast Channel 26 at 7 p.m.  To get email updates on upcoming school Board meetings: 

https://k12edition.hatchbuck.com/OnlineForm/3031107761

To find upcoming Board meetings agendas, meeting dates, times and Board videos.  Importantly, meetings are live streamed here:

https://www.lwsd.org/board/board-meeting-video  

**Public comments are taken at 7 p.m. Business meetings by phone or in writing to djenkins@lwsd.org or boardmembers@lwsd.org.

The Redmond Arts Commission meets with City Council to discuss the future of art and culture in Redmond

The Arts Commission was invited to a study session with the Redmond Mayor and Council last week.  Rob Leavitt, Chair of the commission and staffer Josua Heim ran most of the meeting.  Rob said the purpose of the Arts Commission is a "catalyst for Redmond's diverse and inventive community - and incubator for creativity."

Rob highlighted the diverse population Redmond serves.  He claimed one in three Redmond residents are people of color with 25% of the residents born outside the U.S.  Redmond is a young community with 25% of the residents between 20-34 years of age and 33% between 30-55 years. 

Rob wanted his Arts Commission to be known as the "Arts and Culture Commission" owing to the diverse ethnic populations within Redmond.  Councilmember Hank Myers said the diversity of Redmond gives Redmond "a lot of clay" to work with from which to build art works.  He recommended our arts and culture "be fun for our residents."  Councilmember Kimberly Allen said our niche appears to be in the digital arts and that we should celebrate our diversity with ethnic festivals.  She said outdoor festivals are our strong suit, alluding to Derby Days, summer events, the Bon Fire, Winter Lights, and Ananda Mela at City Hall.  Councilmember Tom Flynn liked the idea of Redmond being "a cultural arts town" saying "it brings good vibes." 

Councilmember John Stilin, a past Redmond arts commission chair said "we need to  put something out there - a little daring - we may have some misses - but the essence of a lot of art is it challenges people to think differently."   Council spent a lot of time giving staff feedback on the "Cultural Corridor 2030 Master Plan" in the downtown.  A large, manufactured "erratic" (glacial boulder) will be installed in the corridor as a centerpiece.  A center for the performing arts is in the 2020 plan for the Overlake area but the city is also working with Eastside cities for a possible regional center.

Councilmember Hank Margeson said "It's hard to be all things to all people.  We don't have to be a Park City, Utah (Sun Dance Film Festival) or an Ashland, Or (Shakespeare Festival).  We want to be Redmond...to find our own niche and piece of the puzzle."  Councilmember Carson said Redmond's  niche is in Digital Arts without even a seedling for a performing arts center.

Mayor Marchione challenged the commission to ask "What's the best Redmond we can be?  Who are we?  What's our soul?"  He said Redmond's roots are in lumber and agriculture.  

In my opinion, perhaps a mural could be painted on one of the old cinder block buildings on Cleveland Street attesting to our pioneer days. The City of Bothell has some good examples of quality murals.  Do you have any ideas for art or culture events in Redmond?  Is it time some new art was installed? 

By Bob Yoder

UPDATED: Redmond Needs A Visitor Center

UPDATED:  My wife and I attended the "Redmond Bar and Grill" streatery ribbon cutting tonight and felt so good just being outside and enjoying our neighbors.  The outdoor seating really made it all happen and the food and drink was delicious.

We felt more streateries like this one would make Redmond a special place.  As is, downtown Redmond just seems almost sterile.  People are starting to use the park but not like we had hoped. We decided what was needed is a Visitor Center. The only Visitors' Center we have is at Microsoft.  Even "Experience Redmond" labeled our center as Microsoft's.  As you can see from this link we are much more than Microsoft. https://www.redmond.gov/943/Largest-Employers.

We discussed good places for a Visitor Center.  The 3200 s.f. business for rent at Leary Way and Redmond Way, underneath Dr. Han's dental practice, seemed a good location. A center on the City Hall campus seemed okay.

Redmond is more than a Microsoft; we need to spread our wings and welcome all of  our newcomers.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion

This piece was posted on Facebook with lots of viewer interest and feedback.  One lady thought a good place for the Tourist Center was near the downtown park.  Another mentioned a kiosk at the ERRATIC.  Most people were positive about the park.