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Five Native American artists were selected to create artwork for the two primary entries at the Pine plaza and Olive Way of Summit. The goal of these artworks is to express the ancestral and contemporary presence, contributions and diversity of the Native communities and individuals in the state.
The art is a visual acknowledgement that Summit is on Indigenous land, in the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people, but the art also seeks to acknowledge that the Native peoples of our region are composed of many nations and tribal affiliations, including the growing number of urban Native artists and communities in Washington.
In addition to their individual artworks, the artists decided to work together on a collaborative piece located at the Olive Way ADA entry.
The cohort chose the kelp forests of the Salish Sea as a metaphor for the strength of Indigenous women, “doing work ‘under the surface’ that can be difficult to see, but is critical to the continuance of our cultures.” Each section of the kelp depicts an individual artist’s culture, while collectively this sculpture acknowledges that they are a group of strong, Indigenous women.