East is West
Artist
Val Laigo
MediumCeramic and glass tile
Dimensions144 x 175 x 38 1/2 in. (365.8 x 444.5 x 97.8 cm)
ClassificationsMural
Credit LineSeattle Arts Commission and donations from the Filipino community
Description: This artwork is prominently located in a hillside park overlooking downtown Seattle and Puget Sound. It is a freestanding mosaic mural with two sides. The surface of the mural is made up of an assortment of mosaic tile and glass and mirror fragments. Side one, which is community funded, faces east and is of abstract design. Side two, facing west, refers to mythological and cultural symbology and comprises three sections. In the first, the colors of the Spanish flag (red and yellow) are favored, along with European/Christian imagery: the ichthys, the head of a bull, the cross. The second section is done in red, white, and blue, and includes Jewish, American, and Chinese stars; milkfish, a Philippine food source; and rooster imagery, which is symbolic of the Malayan cultures. The third section uses the colors of the flag of the Philippines (red, yellow, blue, and white), and depicts various mythological creatures, including the salmon as a symbol of the Northwest Indians. Cutouts in the mural permit views through the artwork. Four dedication plaques are displayed, one each to acknowledge the Beacon Hill area, the patrons of the artwork, and the City of Seattle, and one that was made from a wax cast of the signatures of project participants.
Location: Dr. Jose Rizal Park, 1008 12th Avenue South, Seattle WA 98144
Location: Dr. Jose Rizal Park, 1008 12th Avenue South, Seattle WA 98144
