By Staff Writer, Molly Joylee
First in a series of Special Reports:
Editor's Update: After posting, we learned of the passing of "Waiting for the Interurban" Artist, Richard Beyer. Quoting Fred Bassetti, in a related Seattle Times Article, "He had a thoughtfulness about the human condition." He also had a sense of humor and a belief that anyone can make art, and that's an inspiration for any neighborhood...
With great anticipation, we loaded ourselves into the big blue van with the fiberglass Crepe on top—our transportation being a kind gesture of support from the Maynard Park Crepe-Ateria. There were seven of us, six real people, and me (the “imbedded reporter”), crowded with expectation on a quest to find inspiration for a new signature centerpiece for Seattle’s Maynard Park neighborhood.
Rather than searching in our own back yard, this was a journey of discovery to the neighboring neighborhoods to find out what makes them special. With that enlightenment, Maynardites hope to give voice to their own grand ideas to give Maynard Park “something” to uniquely identify itself.
We headed East, then jogged North a little, and finally went a bit South until we arrived in Fremont, the Center of the Known Universe. As we rounded the curve in the road, the imposing bronze figure of Lenin suddenly appeared, and someone in the van shouted, “Let’s get something to eat at Taco Del Mar!”
As we sat, consuming the indigenous food of Fremont, we gazed up to marvel at the spectacle of the fallen communist dictator, now resurrected on a taco dining patio.
“I wouldn’t want to copy them exactly,” puzzled citizen leader, Gretchen Oublie. “But, could we get our hands on a 16-foot tall (or better) bronze statue of Stalin?” iPads were blazing to eBay and Craigslist to find an equally imposing Stalin for Maynard Park, but there just wasn’t anything big enough. Ed Mantra suggested the purchase of several tabletop-sized Stalin statues for an envisioned “Maynard Park Stalin Garden.” Ed’s unique vision was to “plant” or partially bury a dozen or more of the diminutive dictators in and around the Maynard Park P-Patch. With a spirit of all-ideas-are-good-ideas, the suggestion was noted and recorded, and the team pressed on to the next Fremont Neighborhood attraction for further inspiration.
On the road again, the visionaries slowed a bit alongside “Waiting for the Interurban”, and there was a collective, “well...maybe something like that?” We then quickly came upon the newer statues of “J.P. Patches and Gertrude”, and everyone went, “Ohhhh. Wish we had something like that.” But, alas, while Maynard Park has plenty of spirit, the neighborhood is considerably lacking when it comes to endearing local celebrities. The closest we have is retired Psychic-to-the-Stars, Carmelita Chi Chi, who holds court at one of the Maynard Park Starbucks, but she’s far less than “Legend” status.
So, we pressed on, and pulled up to the Fremont Troll. Everyone looked at each other, then at the Troll, then back at each other again. “This is what I’m talking about,” declared Andy Plateau. “It’s so spontaneous!”
So, there it was…13,000 pounds of spontaneity.
Gretchen reminded the team that this was their first sojourn, and there were several more Seattle neighborhoods to visit before settling on a signature vision for Maynard Park.
It was a good day. Minds were open. Foods and beverages flowed freely, and pleasant dreams were had by all.
Next stop…Wedgwood.
