Guerrilla-art can stay in Gas Works Park through Labor Day

A gold-colored sculpture that appeared in Gas Works Park earlier this week will be allowed to remain in the park through Labor Day, the Seattle Parks Department announced today.

The city initially planned to remove the sculpture Thursday, but relented after receiving a number of complaints by people who didn't want the art work taken away.

The multi-piece sculpture by an anonymous artist turned up in Gas Works Park overnight Monday, surprising parks officials.

The papier-mâché guerrilla art sculpture consists of several pieces: a full-size gold-colored man standing on the waterfront surrounded by what appear to be shells, some with the heads of people emerging from them.

"Anew is gifted to the citizens of Seattle in the spirit of awakening," the artist wrote in a plaque attached to the sculpture. "Each of us has shells to break through, parameters to look past and wills to exercise. Arise and stand and then start moving."

As a P.S., the artist wrote, "If still here I will remove once the rains return."

The sculpture was on display at a recent Ignition Northwest event. Ignition Northwest organization was created to "foster radical self-expression, participatory art, and sustainable community through regional events, art grants, and information sharing," according to the group's Web site.

The artist's identity remains a secret.

"At the moment, the artist wishes to remain anonymous," said Stuart Updegrave, Ignition Northwest art committee chairman. He said Ignition Northwest is the organization which produces Critical Massive, an annual arts event. The Gas Works Park sculpture was displayed at that event in July.

Guerrilla art is nothing new to Seattle. In January 2001, a gray steel slab, the "monolith," appeared in Seattle's Magnuson Park. But a few days after it was discovered, someone stole it and somehow placed the 350-pound structure on Duck Island in the middle of Seattle's Green Lake.

Sandor Szabados, walking his dog in Gas Works Park on Tuesday, stopped to admire the sculpture. "This is allegorical," he said. "Grown people in their psychological shells become full persons. I saw it and immediately understood what it is, it's about breaking through nakedness and having to start anew, like the Age of Aquarius."

It's not known when the sculpture was erected, but a parks department worker said it wasn't there when he left Gas Works on Monday afternoon.

Parks spokeswoman Dewey Potter said the sculpture can't remain in the park beyond Labor Day because the artist didn't go through the permitting process.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com