Arts festival kicks off on beautiful day in Des Moines
A suspiciously high number of downtown workers in casual Friday clothes strolled through the Des Moines Arts Festival on what turned out to be a perfect afternoon. The event opened at 11 a.m., five hours earlier than in years past, and more than a few employees took a long lunch or ducked out of work early - or both.
But Melanie Price wasn't among them. She leaned over the counter at the coffee shop in Wellmark's new headquarters, where she was posted until 5:30 p.m.
"Everyone's out having a good time," she said with a sigh, "and I'm stuck in here."
Out the window, thousands of people enjoyed the sunshine, with a slight breeze and highs in the upper 70s. Even after months of preparation, the festival organizers couldn't have planned a better way to begin the three-day event.
Many of the most prominent artists have returned. Seattle sculptor Andrew Carson's wind-powered whirligigs of steel and colored glass grow like a forest out of the pavement in front of Americana, the new restaurant near 13th and Locust streets. Cali Hobgood-Lemme of Urbana, Ill., brought back her elegant photos of simple objects - books, shoes, neatly folded shirts - and the Nigerian-born sculptor Nnamdi Okonkwo's well-rounded women sprawl out on pedestals in a booth on Grand Avenue.
But there are surprises, too. An audience gathered to watch Roberto the Magnificent bounce coconuts off his head while teetering atop a very tall unicycle. He finished the act with three machetes.
"The crowds here are fabulous," the Seattle performer said afterward, wiping his face with a towel. "They're just really responsive."
Foot traffic was light enough that he could pedal away without much hassle. But the numbers picked up later on, as more people - those who hadn't ditched work - headed downtown for the Iowa Cubs game at Principal Park, and the festival's Smithereens concert, on the outdoor stage west of the library.
Kids waded in the man-made creek in front of the Pappajohn Education Center and rolled, over and over again, down the hills in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. They took turns playing the cello and violin at the Des Moines Symphony's instrument "petting zoo" and scrunched plastic bags into flowers for the Des Moines Art Center's three-story sculpture of an ice cream cone. One of the volunteers, Michael Lane, figured they'll need about 20,000 flowers to fill up the chicken-wire framework and even more if the sculpture "melts" across the sidewalk.
Seattle Sculpture Park - News
Olympic Sculpture Park at the north end of Seattle's downtown always has been free – but summer is a particularly cool time to go, especially for South Sounders. Olympic Sculpture Park at the north end of Seattle's downtown always has been free – but
A man practices playing his trumpet during the lunch hour on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. The sound of the instrument echoing among the sculptures added to the atmosphere of the waterfront park during the lunch hour
RODNEY WHITE/REGISTER PHOTOS Patrons walk along Grand Avenue on the north side of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park on Friday afternoon as they enjoy the first day of the Des Moines Arts Festival. The event continues today from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday
Manchanda will oversee modern and contemporary art programs and collection at all three SAM branches: SAM Downtown, Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. Robert Storr, Dean of the Yale School of Art, with whom Manchanda worked on two
Beach Naturalist Program: Explore sea life at low tide with a Seattle Aquarium naturalist; 11 am-2:30 pm Saturday; 11:30 am-3 pm Sunday; 12:30-3:30 pm Monday, South Alki, Golden Gardens, Carkeek Park, Lincoln Park, Richmond Beach, Des Moines;
Downtown Seattle & Sculpture Park Engagement Photo Session | HR ...
So what do you get when you bring two architects together. coffee, and a city full of buildings? An Engagement session in a city full of buildings – Downtown Seattle that is. We recently met Alexia & Brian over a cup of coffee at Starbucks and they couldn’t wait to get their Engagement shots. The criteria – an urban setting, which is fitting as they’re both architects. From what they told me, you’ll never look at another building the same once you become an architect. Well at least I know there are a few buildings in Seattle now that I’ll look at differently (i.e. the Library, for example). And for Alexia & Brian, there wasn’t a better place than Downtown Seattle to photograph. So, Alexia & Brian along with her mother and daughter, Gracie embarked to 4th and Spring in Downtown Seattle to shoot their engagement session. We used the Seattle Public Library, a Seattle’s best coffee and a ledge to get some great shots. We also did some family shots with Gracie, who made a new friend (a dog and her owner). Then, for the final leg, we went to Sculpture park to take a sunset shot and a walking shot along the railroad tracks.
Alexia & Brian are getting married on May 30, 2011. We’re really excited to be a part of their wedding. They’ve got a beautiful family and we’re very excited to be a part of helping them capture their wedding day.
I'm at Olympic Sculpture Park (2901 Western Ave, at Broad, Seattle) w/ 2 others 
Metal tree at Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle @ Olympic Sculpture Park 
I think the Olympic Sculpture Park is fabulous for photo opps, too. Call - he knows Seattle very well!
Enter Seattle via HWY 99 & not I-5. Check out Pike Place Mkt (open til 5 today), Seattle Waterfront/Piers & Olympic Sculpture Park.
Look what some guy welded onto a sculpture at Meridian Park. And no, it wasn't the original artist Seattle Sculpture Park - Bookshelf
Olympic Sculpture Park for the Seattle Art Museum, Weiss/Manfredi
Travel Seattle for Smartphones and Mobile Devices - City Guide and Maps
Olympic Sculpture Park The Olympic Sculpture Park is a public park in Seattle, Washington that opened on January 20, 2007. The park consists of a 9-acre ...Living systems, innovative materials and technologies for landscape architecture
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Olympic Sculpture Park Covering 9 acres of hillside that stretches from Bell- town ... Sculpture Park is the biggest attraction to hit Seattle in years. ...Information Terminal Directory
Olympic Sculpture Park: Visitor Information
Complete listings of visitor information for the Olympic Sculpture Park ... Where is the park in relation to SAM Downtown and the Seattle Asian Art Museum? ...
Olympic Sculpture Park: About the Park
The Olympic Sculpture Park has transformed a nine-acre industrial site into open and ... This new waterfront park gives Seattle residents and visitors the opportunity to ...
Olympic Sculpture Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Olympic Sculpture Park is a public park in Seattle, Washington that opened on January 20, 2007.[1] ... The park is operated by the Seattle Art Museum, which also operates ...
Olympic Sculpture Park | Seattle Times Newspaper
Daily local news, sports, arts and entertainment, and classified ads. Seattle Art Museum, Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle waterfront, Outdoor art. ...
The Arts | Art at Sculpture Park is a touchy subject ...
Nearly a year after opening, Seattle's outdoor art park is holding up pretty well. ... Olympic Sculpture Park officials are sensitive about coming across as ...