Oak Harbor installs long-awaited sculpture

The Oak Harbor landscape has taken a slightly new shape.

Around 80 members of the community, city staff, Sculpture Northwest and the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce gathered at Flintstone Park on Thursday for the much-anticipated ribbon cutting of the Angel de la Creatividad, a 40-foot sculpture.

The sculpture was trailered over Deception Pass last week and rigged into place by Ram Construction on Wednesday. As it went from horizontal to vertical, its white coat matched the overcast sky as was intended.

“When working on sculpture ideas for an outdoor environment, the sculptor thinks in terms of form, positive and negative shapes, lines, how edges come together, how surfaces reflect light, the medium, all in the spirit of creating something that is aesthetically pleasing and intellectually engaging,” said Richard Nash, a local artist. “Seeing the sculpture upright for the first time, yesterday’s installation was very impressive.”

Sebastián, a renowned Mexican sculptor, created the Angel de la Creatividad as a visual metaphor celebrating the creative spirit of humans, Nash said, nothing more and nothing less. Sebastián is touted as perhaps the best in the world of artists of monumental sculptures.

As simple as the angel may look, Nash said, it is formed with many complicated shapes.

“Whether you find the sculpture beautiful or outright strange, (Sculpture Northwest) will continue to reach out to the community to help and understand the iconic nature of the sculpture,” he said.

The sculpture was originally purchased by George Drake, founder of Sculpture Northwest, who gifted it to Oak Harbor after his 2020 passing. A survey by the city revealed in 2021 that 70% of participants did not want it.

“Public art in general and architecture have never been immune from public criticism,” Nash said. “Among the most controversial was the erection of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, now widely respected for its positive impact on the visual world.”

Therese Kingsbury, a member of the art commission, said Drake created Sculpture Northwest to make space for outdoor sculptures in Whatcom, Island, Skagit and San Juan counties. He had a nearly 50-year friendship with Sebastián, whose large-scale art is seen in capitals of countries all over the world.

Dannah McCullough, executive director of the chamber of commerce, said she looks forward to the artists, tourists and business the sculpture may attract.

“I’ve been to a lot of ribbon cuttings, and I think this is the only one I’ve cried at,” she said.

Ram Construction staff hoist the horizontal Angel De Creatividad sculpture upright on Wednesday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

The Angel De Creatividad sculpture took flight on Wednesday as Ram Construction riggers move it in place. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

Ram Construction staff prepare to mount the Angel De Creatividad sculpture on its platform on Wednesday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

Ram Construction staff hoist the horizontal Angel De Creatividad sculpture upright on Wednesday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher) Ram Construction staff prepare to mount the Angel De Creatividad sculpture on its platform on Wednesday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)

Ram Construction staff prepare to mount the Angel De Creatividad sculpture on its platform on Wednesday. Photo by Sam Fletcher

Members of the City of Oak Harbor and Sculpture Northwest cut the ribbon for the Angel de Creatividad, Oak Harbor’s new 40-foot sculpture at Flintstone Park on Thursday. (Photo by Sam Fletcher)