All the Rivers in the World, Tacoma
painted aluminum, participatory art workshops | University of Washington-Tacoma
270’ x 8’ x 3”
Members of the community were invited to participate in this public art piece with the following prompt: Think about rivers: the rivers you know, remember, and are connected to. Where has the water flowed in the places of your childhood and your current home? What is the name of your river? Write it in the language most meaningful to you.
The artwork is located along the Prairie Line Trail and reflects on the fact that while the historic rail line is visible, that the Puyallup River is an older, vibrant connector. Historically, immigrants came from all over the world to Tacoma and many worked in the buildings that now house the university adjacent to the trail. Now students, faculty and staff continue to come from many places to be part of this community. Their place memories are celebrated in the inclusion of world-wide river names.
The Lushootseed words were included in the work with the approval of the Puyallup Tribal Council and the collaboration of University Tribal Liaison. The typographers who collaborated on the design of the work used a specially designed Lushootseed typeface for these words. The Lushootseed words are not capitalized in keeping with the proper way of writing place names in this language.
Gratitude is extended to the Puyallup Tribe for their stewardship of this land and water.
Commissioned by the Washington State Arts Commission in partnership with the University of Washington, Tacoma.
Thanks to artist Antonio José García Cano whose work was part of the genesis of this project, and to Amy Harrington and Jules Naujoks who designed the typography and graphic elements.
Photos by Joe Freeman Jr.
2019
270’ x 8’ x 3”
Members of the community were invited to participate in this public art piece with the following prompt: Think about rivers: the rivers you know, remember, and are connected to. Where has the water flowed in the places of your childhood and your current home? What is the name of your river? Write it in the language most meaningful to you.
The artwork is located along the Prairie Line Trail and reflects on the fact that while the historic rail line is visible, that the Puyallup River is an older, vibrant connector. Historically, immigrants came from all over the world to Tacoma and many worked in the buildings that now house the university adjacent to the trail. Now students, faculty and staff continue to come from many places to be part of this community. Their place memories are celebrated in the inclusion of world-wide river names.
The Lushootseed words were included in the work with the approval of the Puyallup Tribal Council and the collaboration of University Tribal Liaison. The typographers who collaborated on the design of the work used a specially designed Lushootseed typeface for these words. The Lushootseed words are not capitalized in keeping with the proper way of writing place names in this language.
Gratitude is extended to the Puyallup Tribe for their stewardship of this land and water.
Commissioned by the Washington State Arts Commission in partnership with the University of Washington, Tacoma.
Thanks to artist Antonio José García Cano whose work was part of the genesis of this project, and to Amy Harrington and Jules Naujoks who designed the typography and graphic elements.
Photos by Joe Freeman Jr.
2019
