8th Annual Public Art Walk-n-Talk

Sunday August 5, 2020

“Only through art can we emerge from ourselves and know what another person sees.” – Marcel Proust

In keeping with our summertime tradition, come join the 8th Annual Burien Public Art Walk-n-Talk on Sunday, August 5, 2020, as we begin the TENTH YEAR (!) of our monthly walks.

NOTE: Facial coverings and social distancing will be required.

A few years ago, the City of Burien’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, along with Burien’s Arts Commission, created a walking map and signage for 23 public art pieces around town. DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE PUBLIC ART MAP HERE to carry along with you as we discover 20 of those art pieces.

Date: Sunday, August 5, 2020
Time: Meet-up at 2:00. Walking starts at 2:15.
Who: Walkers of every level and ability (dogs are welcome, too.)
Place: Meet out in front of the Wells Fargo Bank, at the corner of Ambaum and SW 152nd. St.
Walking Route: Because the Community Center Annex is being prepped for demolition, we will not be meeting there. We will walk in REVERSE ORDER from the map. We will start at #20, “Gordon, Dixie and Clem”, and walk through town from there, including through the “Art Alley” between SW 152nd and 153rd Streets, from 6th Ave. to 4th Ave. We’ll also add the art spaces at The Maverick Apartments and Merrill Gardens, which are curated in partnership with the City of Burien. (You can read more about the art spaces on the B-Town Blog HERE.)
Distance: About 1.75 miles, round trip, mostly flat with sidewalks.

“I had a pleasant time on this walk and discovered art in Burien that I hadn’t known about since living in the area beginning in 1992. Where are we heading on the next walk?” – Rick

“There is a Whale Inside Me”, by Troy Pillow, 2010

What is Public Art in Burien?

It stands tall on a pedestal at your side, adds pattern and color to a painted wall and is embedded in the floor at your feet. Art is creative expression made visible through metal, glass, paint, paper, concrete… any material available to the artist.

Explore this community in a different way. Art is everywhere… sculptures, murals, carvings… but also artist-designed floors, windows, water features and more. Think about what “ART” means to you as you wander through Burien. Do you see pattern in a stack of tires, or texture in the natural landscape? How is your life enriched by the art around you?

The City of Burien made a commitment in 1998 to bring art to the community with its 1% for Art Program. Similar to municipal projects around the country, 1% of selected city project costs are set aside to be used on public art projects. The Burien Arts Commission is a volunteer advisory board appointed by the City Council that has the responsibility to recommend artworks that can expand a viewer’s visual experience.

CLICK HERE For further information about public art in Burien.