Monuments and other pieces of public art are too often considered just terms of their cost rather than the benefits they can provide. Public and private organizations of all types have space that could be utilized for sculptures and landmarks, but how should the potential benefits of installing something in these spaces be weighed against their actual costs? The best way to consider such opportunities is to explore exactly what these benefits can look like when they’re actively considered.
Some communities have used monuments to create a direct source of revenue, while others are more focused on how landmarks can celebrate the history of an area. Other attractions are designed to serve as a hub of community activity or provide a characteristic landmark that makes navigation easier. These kinds of benefits can last long after the costs associated with the creation of these pieces have been paid in full.
Crow with Fries has enabled these sorts of benefits for the city of Auburn, Washington. Artist Peter Reiquam has talked through the approach and process that he utilized for what has come to be known as an iconic piece of public art in Auburn. The connection it represents to the past, present and future of Auburn showcases how monuments and other pieces of public art can create value that is far more significant and long-lasting than their actual cost.
A “Selfie Magnet”
In late 2017, the City of Auburn began the process of commissioning an artist to create a public art piece for Les Gove Park. It was intended to reside on the newly renovated property of the park that extended to Auburn Way South. The Auburn Arts Commission and Auburn City Council went through a long selection process and identified that they wanted to see an iconic piece of sculpture in the space.
The iconic nature of most monuments and sculptures is typically a serendipitous development, but creating something that could become an icon for the city was an essential part of this selection process. By utilizing the history of the site as well as the playful crows that reside in the area, artist Peter Reiquam was able to create something that resonated with audiences as soon as it was installed in 2019.
“The overwhelming feedback I have heard since the piece has been completed has been very positive,” said Allison Hyde, Arts Coordinator for the City of Auburn. “Over the summer and during the Farmer’s Market season, countless people took their picture with the piece. Kids crawled on the French fry box and tried to slide down the crow’s tail. The sculpture has indeed become a whimsical, relatable and eye-catching ‘selfie magnet.’ I would say that the sculpture has become a significant landmark for Auburn, capturing the attention of the local community and visitors alike.”
The impact of having a “selfie magnet” is difficult to calculate, but it’s clear how Crow with Fries allows audiences of all types to interact with one another and at the park in a way they wouldn’t otherwise. Whether they’re old or young, long-time Auburn residents and those new to the community have shown how much they enjoy the artwork and are able to see what it brings to the Auburn community. There are multiple ways that this connection is having an impact across the city though.
An Identifier of and for Auburn
The connection that Crow with Fries has with the crows that frequent the park is easy enough for anyone to see, but people that are new to the area don’t typically make the connection to the Big Daddy’s Drive-In restaurant that once stood at the location. While a sign is posted in front of the sculpture every week of the Farmer’s Market to inform the public of this history, it’s not essential to have that context to enjoy the piece. The visual power and appeal of the sculpture is what has allowed it to resonate in such a profound manner.
“It’s really become an identifier of the Farmer’s Market site,” said Amanda Valdez, Events Coordinator for the City of Auburn. “When we explain to people where the Market is located, we often hear, ‘Oh that’s where the giant crow is, right?’”
This visual impact of the sculpture allowed it to immediately become a landmark for Auburn which can be reproduced for use on the City’s website and publications to promote the City and its programs. Being seen and utilized in that manner has positively impacted the hearts and minds of countless people across the city.
“The sculpture has raised awareness and discussion of public art,” said Jonna Chissus, Operations Manager at the King County Library System. “Staff and patrons comment on other art installations they see around town. Just the other day we were talking about some local graffiti art that we have seen around town and someone asked if we had all seen the newest installations over on Main Street. People are paying attention!”
That attentiveness is the direct result of how sculptures like Crow with Fries can indirectly drive conversations and change perceptions. What it has meant to do so for the present and future of Auburn is one of the best examples of the value that such pieces can create for entire communities.
Impacting People Across Ages and Eras
Crow with Fries has become an important part of Auburn’s art collection and its’ value and integrity depend on it remaining a unique piece of art. That is part of the reason the city is limited to using imagery associated with the sculpture to their website and publications to promote Auburn and its programs. That protection limits the direct economic impact it might otherwise represent, but the indirect impact it has enabled is incredibly significant.
The presence of the sculpture has provided the Farmer’s Market as well as the nearby library with a powerful identifier. Additionally, temporary events like the Celebration of the Crow art exhibition can take place near the sculpture in a way they wouldn’t be able to without it. However, all of this activity is secondary to the interaction it has enabled for audiences that takes place on a deeper level.
“To me, the sculpture represents both the dark and light side of life, which is a mystery to be dwelled upon,” said Sirichanh Sisavatdy, from the Auburn Arts Commission. “Being a resident of Auburn, I get to have a full view of the piece every time I drive by it and I really enjoy the way it keeps that mystery top of mind for me. I like thinking about how many of the people who live here can drive by it and can similarly reflect on the piece, the history it represents, or whatever else it might cause them to think about.”
Being 12 feet tall and 18 feet long with eyes that light up at night, Crow with Fries is a piece that is impossible to ignore, allowing residents and visitors to interact and interpret it in multiple ways. Viewers can have completely different experiences depending on when and where they view it. Welded with precise aluminum panels and then powder coated, the piece is built to stand the test of time, allowing it to positively impact audiences and create tangible value for the community in the present and future.
“Recently, as I was driving downtown, I saw two kiddos in front of the sculpture,” said Tammy Dwight, an Auburn resident. “One was running around it, and one looked to be joyfully rolling around on the ground in front of it. Clearly, it’s being enjoyed by citizens of all ages!”