Soundings

The Tukwila International Boulevard Station boasts several intriguing pieces of public art. At the base of the escalator entrance is Soundings by Clark Wiegman, a larger-than-life steel sculpture that speaks to the region’s history and heritage.

The two-part piece depicts a large hazelnut split in half, paying homage to the Duwamish name for Tukwila, k’ap’uxac (“place of hazelnuts”). One side of the hazelnut doubles as a medicine rattle (a sacred instrument used in many Native American cultures for spiritual and healing purposes). On the rattle’s handle is an outline of the historic path of the Duwamish River, which glows with blue light at night. Put your ear close to the sculpture and you may even make out ambient sounds of wind, water, and fields coming from within.

About the Artist:
Clark Wiegman creates artwork for public spaces. His works respond to their surrounding culture and environment, and focus on collaborative placemaking. They include temporary projects, sound and light installations, and sculptures made from a variety of materials. (Source: Washington State Arts Commission).