New public art debuts in Langley

Steel and glass shape pieces chosen by arts commission

By Patricia Guthrie • July 13, 2018 1:30 am

Glass, metal and fire figure prominently in new pieces of public art to be dedicated Saturday in Langley.

Four outdoor pieces created by Lin McJunkin, Dale Reiger and Scott Alexander were recently selected by the Langley Arts Commission for the latest outdoor sculpture competition.

The pieces are scheduled to be installed Friday. A short dedication ceremony beginning 6:30 p.m. Saturday will take place prior to the city’s Third Annual Street Dance at Second Street Plaza.

Alexander’s piece of galvanized steel, wood and glass is called “The Kraken” and inspired by tales of mythical sea monsters.

“It came about through the stories of the Kraken I would tell my children as we walked the Langley dock,” he said.

“To a salty Irish-infused accent, their eyes would widen and they would gaze expectantly at the water while nudging closer to me and away from the edge.”

Alexander previously created a Kraken piece commissioned by the Spyhop Public House.

“The stories on the dock would change over time,” he said. “This piece, more playful, is a change from my original Kraken hanging in the Spyhop.”

McJunkin’s contribution is a tandem installation of powder-coated steel and kiln-carved glass called “Leaf Petroglyph” and “Feather Fetish.”

She’s also the artist — along with Milo White — who created the glass and steel rainbow archway along Clyde Alley, which links Second and Third Street.

Dale Reiger’s sculpture, “Window,” is a towering four-sided sculpture of dark glass adorned with elemental shapes and symbols.

“It was inspired by my experimentation with allowing light to move through glass sculptures. “Window” has a long narrow section of clear glass in the back of the sculpture,” Reiger said.

Inside, he placed a multi-colored LED light so the piece will change colors at night.

It’s also Reiger’s second Clyde Alley outdoor piece.

He also collaborated with Alexander to create “Rusted Iridescence” currently installed on Main Street in Auburn.

Langley’s public art program allows artists to display temporary fine art free of charge in different locations around the city. If the artwork sells, the city gets 20 percent of the proceeds.

If the art doesn’t sell within 18 months, a new call for artists to submit pieces is released by the commission.