I think it’s looking at us… (Image: Laura Grossman)
(Image: Laura Grossman)
“Sea monster, huge fish — leviathan. A big unknowable monster,” artist Lauren Grossman promises.
Her work, Leviathan Helm, will begin taking shape at the top of the rook-like tower Wednesday as she and her crew of art students haul the Godzilla up piece by piece to be assembled at the top of the well-worn stairs. By Thursday, the monster will be in place and ready for a five-day stay at the top of the tower. The glass artist and sculptor is powered in the project by a Seattle CityArtist Projects grant… and her own respect for the uncharted.
“There will be mystery,” Grossman said. “A lot of people that will come up won’t be coming up to see the work. They’ll get sound and color as they come up the stairs. As they arrive, they’ll find a 50-foot wide installation. I don’t think it’s too scary.”
That all depends on how you deal with the unknown. Grossman was reluctant to reveal too much about the installation other than it will be huge and mostly contained on the 1906-built water tower’s observation deck. You might see some fabric billowing from below. Grossman said she has always wanted to create a piece inside the tower. She navigated the grant process and lucked out on approval to place her creation in the old tower. “I like a good beat up building,” she said.
The installation will also allow visitors to be part of the art and “to operate the piece from the center,” Grossman said.
She will be there to accompany her monster. Partly to help make sure the leviathan survives its five days of mystery at the top of the tower but also to talk with visitors and answer questions — well, most questions. “People ask all sorts of questions like, ‘Why would you make this?'” Grossman said. “I try not to tell them what it’s about.”
Leviathan Helm can be found inside the Volunteer Park water tower starting Thursday September 15th through Tuesday, September 20th from 10 AM to 9 PM daily.
