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Alec Clayton critiques Wright Park
by Alec Clayton
May 08, 2008
Have you ever seen the art in Wright Park? I mean really seen it? Or have you, like me, passed by countless times without noticing it at all. Maybe you haven’t noticed because it is really old-fashioned and grungy — the newest pieces were erected in 1976 and 1978, and the oldest go back to the end of the 19th century. The art in the park was unremarkable until the park’s recent renovation. Now, the entrance to the park on Sixth Avenue is overwatched by two gleaming white sandstone sculptures of lion kings beckoning. And like complementary bookends, on the Division Street side are two saucy dancing girls in Greek gowns sculpted in equally gleaming white sandstone. (After they were first installed in 1891, locals nicknamed them Annie and Fannie after Annie Wright and Fannie Paddock — namesakes for Annie Wright School and Fannie Paddock Hospital, which is now Tacoma General.)
Just inside the main entrance on Sixth Avenue is a large ceremonial plaza surrounded by a decorative wrought iron fence. Seen from the point of view of an artist, this is minimalist sculpture in a gilded frame. The grass is green and closely cropped like a putting green. It is pleasing to the eye and restful to the soul. From here, you can see panoramas of beautifully landscaped lawn and trees with winding paths. The landscaping of the park is art in itself. If I were to describe the defining look of the park since its renovation, I would have to say it is turn-of-the-20th-century gilded and pastoral with a touch of ultra-modern cool.
From the Division Street entrance between the dancing Greek maidens, the vista is slightly less open and perhaps more intriguing with walking paths through stately trees alongside a network of renovated and expanded ponds. On an island in the pond sits the 117-year-old cast concrete sculpture known as The Lady of the Lake or The Fisherman’s Daughter, which was recently restored by artist Lynn Di Nino after having been severely damaged by vandalism.
The dancing ladies have a sassy and lighthearted look. One has hands on hips; the other originally had a finger on her chin, but after her arm was broken it was repositioned across her chest to make it more secure.
The park also sports two sculptures by Larry Anderson, the darling of Tacoma society in the 1970s. His sculptures are all over town. They are realistic and sentimental (imagine Normal Rockwell working in bronze instead of paint). The Leaf is a touching image of a little girl showing a leaf to an old man seated on a park bench. It is designed so visitors can sit by him and share in the moment. Trilogy depicts three children cavorting in the grass and includes what is believed to be Tacoma’s first sculpture of an African-American.
The other major work of art in the park is a 1913 bust of the Norwegian poet and playwright Henrik Ibsen by sculptor Jacob Fjelde. It is a typical monumental bust of the era. An inscription below the bust reads in English and Norwegian: “Our lives … Should be pure and white … Tablets whereon … God can write.”
Saturday, May 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. there will be a large reopening celebration in Wright Park. The celebration will be kicked off by welcoming remarks from Victoria Woodards, president of the Board of Park Commissioners, “highlighting some of the cool behind-the-scenes things this project has done for the park and the protection of its historic and natural assets,” according to Communications Manager Nancy Johnson.
Johnson says the event on Saturday will also serve as the city’s Arbor Day event.
The Lawn Bowlers Association will be set up to give anyone with flat-soled shoes an opportunity to come try this historic sport, and the horseshoe pits also will be activated.
There will be guided historic tours narrated by Melissa McGinnis, Metro Parks Cultural & Historic Assets manager. For kids, there will be many fun activities including a nature scavenger hunt to locate some of the unique species of trees and plants that are special to this park, including state champion trees.
In honor of the Conservatory’s centennial, a free mum will be given to the first 100 visitors. Finally, there will be a demonstration of the free wireless service Metro Parks will be offering as part of a pilot program.
[Wright Park, reopening ceremony, Saturday, May 10 1-3 p.m., between Division and Sixth Ave., “I” Street and Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma]
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