Starting over with light rail station art forum

Mike Ross's latest design sketches for the Capitol Hill light rail station look more like a fragile mobile and less like a deconstructed Revell model. Maybe this balance will help set a new tone in Wednesday night's forum to discuss the designs that caused so much frustration at a Sound Transit meeting back in April.

Balance would certainly be helpful. The fallout from the April meeting was a messy snarl:

• Sound Transit looked like they were trying to pull a fast one.
• The artist looked out of touch.
• Capitol Hill looked reactionary.

TuesdayWednesday night, we have the chance to begin anew. Sound Transit, Mr. Ross, don't screw this one up. Capitol Hill, us too. We all need to accept a few bullet points:

• The use of fighter jets needs to be explained. As artless as it seems, the message needs to be defined. Feel free to provide multiple definitions but don't think you can leave it to the beholder.
• Sound Transit, a mood of compromise will help. There's damage done on the process front that have opened you up to criticism on every front -- all the way back to selection of a non-Seattle artist.
• Capitol Hill, be careful what you push for. Let's be careful to not end up with these.

Capitol Hill Station Art Forum
June 11, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Capitol Hill Arts Center
1621 12th Ave. Seattle