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Beads Along a Thread: Beaded Poles, Loop Stitch Bollards, Eye of the Needle Poles
Beads Along a Thread: Beaded Poles, Loop Stitch Bollards, Eye of the Needle Poles
Beads Along a Thread: Beaded Poles, Loop Stitch Bollards, Eye of the Needle Poles

Beads Along a Thread: Beaded Poles, Loop Stitch Bollards, Eye of the Needle Poles

Artist Claudia Fitch
MediumBeaded Poles: spun and fabricated aluminum with industrial finish (TNEMEC)
DimensionsBeaded Pole at Japantown: 1 attached art element at 60" H x 60"W x 15"D
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineSeattle Department of Transportation 1 % for Art funds (funds were originally transferred from Sound Transit)
Description: Claudia Fitch began by focusing on the poles that hold the wires that support the streetcar’s power lines. Fitch views the continuous power wire as a thread that links many neighborhoods on the streetcar line. From there, she drew on metaphors related to sewing, needlework and beadwork. Streetcar poles are capped with the “eye of the needle” or, to mark stations, with “beaded poles” – large-scale, abstract bead shapes that are unique to each station.  

Claudia Fitch worked closely with various community members of Japantown to design this beaded pole. This special streetcar pole reflects the forms, colors and references from the visual vocabulary of the Japanese culture.   

Location: 6th Avenue South and South Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104