Today, Seattle artist Miguel Edwards’ new moving 30-foot-tall kinetic sculpture is being installed at the corner of Northwest 85th Street and First Avenue West, in the Greenwood neighborhood. Dubbed ‘Perseus II,’ the sculpture is situated just east of the new 105-unit Janus Apartments building, Seattle-based developer Security Properties commissioned the artwork as part of its commitment to enhancing each new project and neighborhood with unique and local artwork. About “Perseus II”
Solar panels built into the artwork will supply all the electricity needed to move the pendulum and power the light.
The sculpture is composed of a steel tripod base with a curved center pendulum. A slow kinetic rotation is created by the pendulum which is weighted at the top by a stainless sphere and at the bottom by a stainless cone. Solarâpowered LEDs will illuminate two tiers of glass spheres and fins. All glass elements will be set aglow either internally or by adjacent LED lights.
About the artist
Miguel Edwards has lived in the Ballard-Greenwood area for about a decade and has had several exhibitions featured in local galleries as part of the Greenwood Art Walk.
According to Edwards, “Perseus II” draws on references to mythology and duality: exploring man’s relationship with things beyond his physical grasp.
For this project, Security Properties was particularly compelled by artist Miguel Edward’s vision of “Perseus II” due to its potential to become an icon for the neighborhood. The aim is for all Greenwood residents to feel ownership of the sculpture and for Seattleites to someday associate it with Greenwood. The sculpture is also intended to boost a sense of pedestrian safety and walkability along First Avenue and 85th Street.
To Carkeek Park regulars, the sight of Perseus II may invoke a sense of déjà vu. The installation’s younger and smaller sibling, “Perseus I” was temporarily installed near Carkeek Park’s playground in 2010 as part a Center on Contemporary Arts exhibit.
About Janus Apartments
Janus is the Roman god of gates, transitions, and new beginnings. He was depicted as having two faces: one facing the past, and one facing the future. To Security Properties, this aligned nicely with the Janus Apartments site and the building. The building itself has two faces, one facing single-family homes to the south, and one facing 85th Street to the north, each with a distinct façade. The site can be seen as a sort of gateway between the neighborhood and the commercial core.
The building seeks to honor the transition that Greenwood is experiencing, paying homage to its past while celebrating its present and future. The name Janus stuck immediately and has driven much of the team’s design and art decisions.
City living is full of options – always growing and changing. Janus Apartments is part of the artful and eclectic neighborhood of Greenwood, just 10 minutes north of downtown Seattle. “Perseus II” serves as a constant reminder of life in motion.
