"Kelp" - photo courtesy of the artists
Edmonds is known for its flowers and for its art. Put the two together and you have the new hanging flower basket poles.
The hanging flower baskets have been a key part of Edmonds downtown beautification program for many years. Although some baskets hang off of the historic style street lights along Main Street, the majority are on separate poles. The City Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department will gradually be replacing the original galvanized poles with a new flower pole standard that is a square steel pole painted black. The first three “prototype” poles were installed this fall. Two of the poles are installed on Main Street outside the Frances Anderson Center and one pole is located on 5th Avenue N just south of City Hall.
A number of years ago the Arts Commission identified the need for new flower poles as an opportunity to create unique artist made sculptural elements in our downtown, a goal included in the 2008 Community Cultural Plan. The placement of commissioned artwork on the new poles will eventually create an outdoor exhibit stretching along Main St. and 5th Avenue for the public to enjoy, especially when the flower baskets are not in place.
"Lily Buds" - photo courtesy of the artists
In 2010 the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation (EAFF) stepped forward to fund the artwork for the first three poles and commemorative plaques are attached to each pole. Three more are funded by the EAFF for 2011. Commissioned through the EAC, artists Jean Whitesavage and Nick Lyle installed three unique artworks on the three installed poles in early December 2010. Each piece is a botanical design (lily, kelp, and salmonberry flower), made from forged steel that was galvanized. According to the artists the galvanized surface is expected to weather over time, but right now the new sculptures are sparkling for the holiday season. Whitesavage & Lyle also created the forged steel elevator surround artwork in the City Hall lobby in 1997.
"Salmonberry" - photo courtesy of the artists
In 2011, the new poles with art elements commissioned by the Arts Commission will become a part of the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department Gift Catalog similar to the bench program. Donors will be invited to purchase a unique pole to commemorate or honor a person or organization with a small plaque.