You are here: Home » Sea-Tac Airport » Art at Sea-Tac » Rotating Art
Ships in Bottles - On loan from Foss Waterway Museum , Artist Jeff Simmons
Location: Main Terminal (in front of Hudson News/Alki Bakery Express)
On Display: Through January 2009
It is not certain when the first sailor thought to create a ship-in-a-bottle. The oldest surviving examples date to the 1700s. When sea voyages lasted months or even years, sailors occupied their time creating bits of nautical art from whatever material came to hand.
The skill required to successfully place a ship in a bottle is straightforward, but far from simple. It requires masts and yardarms that fold and unfold once the ship is placed inside the bottle, and the dexterity to finish the rigging with the bottle.
Northwest craftsman Jeff Simmons created all the ships in bottles featured in this exhibit. He has been building these ships in bottles for more than 40 years.
Jeff first became intrigued with the mariner's craft when his parents brought home examples from their various antique hunting excursions. He was also inspired by his father, C. Dean Simmons, a model shipbuilder and commercial fishermen. His interest was further sparked by sea stories he read. He built his first ship in a bottle at age 15.
All the ships in this exhibit are all based on historic vessels, including several well-known in the Pacific Northwest . His containers include old whiskey bottles, picket flasks, and his favorite, large old light bulbs.
Location: North Satellite (at the top of the escalators, across from Gate N16, behind security)
On Display: Through October 2008
Using a myriad of recycled objects, Northwest artists from Creative ArtSpace and Art Escape designed teapots primarily for fun rather than mere functionality. In the spirit of “found art,” artists scavenged at least one pot body, handle, lid and spout; often garnering numerous spouts or handles. These teapots were assembled according to whim, whimsy, or the dictates of imagination.
The exquisite flora of Ming vases evoked an impressive array of artistic expression in the creation of the exhibited vases, from delicate dancing lights of floating lanterns to the rich mythology of imperial dragons. Here, East meets Northwest in a burst of colorful creativity. Discarded vases, candles and lanterns were reclaimed and redesigned using paint, collage and assemblage.
These cases exhibit a small sampling of the vibrant and creative voices of contemporary Northwest artists with developmental disabilities and vivid, imaginative capabilities. These artists participate in the Art Escape program at the Moshier Community Art Center in Burien, WA and in the Creative ArtSpace program at the Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services Resource Center in Kent, WA . Instructor Shariana Mundi works with the artists in an atmosphere of playful exploration and creative expression.