Spokane has always prided itself on its culture, the biggest way being through its artwork. From the many murals that are scattered around the town to the sculptures from local artists, there’s plenty of art to see and love. One of the biggest cultural hotbeds in the city is Riverfront Park. Home to many different sculptures and pieces from different artists, Riverfront is a local cultural icon for the city of Spokane, always looking to add more to its repertoire. The newest piece to join its roster? The Seeking Place.
The Seeking Place is a sculpture designed to encompass Spokane’s melting pot of culture and artistic expression. Resting on the top of a hill just below the iconic Pavillion, The Seeking Place is Riverfront’s newest spectacle. A professional artist for 15 years, Coeur D’Alene artist Sarah Moore designed this piece to relate to the Spokane region.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the geology of our region,” Moore said. “I’ve always liked the geology, so the Seeking Place is really based off of that inspiration, specifically the columnar basalt formations.”
True to her word, the Seeking Place does the region justice, as the sculpture itself resembles a geological structure. Creatively shaped rocks lay inside the structure, while the holes in the metal create unique shadows when hit by the sun’s light, creating a unique experience almost every time one enters.
“With my work, it’s a deeper exploration of myself,” Moore said, smiling. “The piece is meant to be explored. For me it’s exploring the ideas around creating works that pertain to the environment. For the people of Spokane, I hope it becomes a spot that people want to return to, becomes emblematic of Spokane, and something that over time develops its own layers and meaning.”
The Seeking Place is a work that took two and a half years to complete. The start of the project was Moore entering her name and portfolio to the city of Spokane in early 2020.
“They took those entries and narrowed it down to four or five artists,” Moore said. “Then those artists create and submit a design. I was selected as a finalist and I submitted my design for The Seeking Place later that year.”
The city took a liking to Moore’s work and she was chosen to create and showcase her piece in Riverfront. Through the selection progress and COVID delays, Moore’s sculpture is now cemented into the legacy of the city.
“I’m very proud of it,” Moore said in regards to her sculpture. “I feel like the feedback has been really great as well. You get so bogged into the nuts and bolts that you never know until the very end how it’s actually going to be. I’m very pleased with how it turned out.”
Moore’s sculpture will now forever be ingrained into the city’s culture and artistic landscape. Sitting on its hill for all to admire, The Seeking Place is a unique spectacle in a city full of unique spectacles. Make sure to check out Sarah’s magnificent sculpture next time you find yourself at Riverfront Park, and share your own exploration.