On January 24, 2000, NWSSA member Verena Schwippert was awarded a sculpture commission for the Everett Transit Station by Sound Transit. The amount set aside for this project is $60,000.

The sculpture will be made of approximately 20 tons of Cascade granite. There will be five large, naturally rounded boulders of three to four and a half tons each. Two of these will remain nearly uncarved, while three will be carved into relaxed fists or gently closed hands, all retaining their boulder shape.

The distribution of the sculptures will be as if naturally strewn, three of them in a cluster and two a short distance away.

An important aspect of the work is that people are invited to interact with it, to sit on it and to touch the stone. Because an espresso shop is nearby, this will most likely occur.

The Art Advisory Committee of Sound Transit chose the hands to indicate and to symbolize the historical manufacturing background of the City of Everett.

The project is currently in its second phase, which means that the information gathering and conceptual presentation steps are completed.

It will take Verena about nine months to carve the rocks. Installation is planned for early summer 2002.

Our warmest congratulation to Verena!