S T R A I G H T S H O T

damage & repair

2008-11-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

i returned from an artist residency on the east coast to find stone #5 face down in the mud. it appears to have been hit by a vehicle, but no one knows for sure. i contacted merlino const. to craft a suitable repair. working collaboratively with seattle parks and arts office, we decided to replace stone #5 completely using stone #11 which has been held in reserve. here are pictures. and yep, you can still sight through it.

stone 5 damage

proximity to roadway.

break at the top of the set pins.

remaining portion was jack hammered.

set pins exposed.

kenny operates backhoe while gordy aligns stone.

epoxy injected into pin holes.

kenny and gordy lookin' good.

installation complete.

straight shot in the news

2007-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

ART SHOT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE PARK
richard seven - seattle times, 30 may 07

AIMED AT THE PUBLIC
charlene peters - marblehead reporter, 02 aug 07

THE SURVEYING INSPIRED ART OF PERRI LYNCH
gavin schrock - american surveyor, nov 07

around the world in 24 stones

2007-11-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

greetings from the baseline. almost one year has passed since the installation of stones #1-10 & 12. at this moment, phase II construction in magnuson park is upon us. berger partnership has designed a beautiful network of trails, wetlands and space for stone #11. local surveyors have recertified the baseline to within 1/10th of a millimeter! if ever there were a known kilometer in the world, this is the one!

so, here's a thought. what if "straight shot" marked not just this kilometer...but a long string of kilometers from british columbia to mongolia, to antarctica, easter island and mercer island?. what if we were to continue the doubling distance between the stones and wrap the artwork around the world? what if?

STRAIGHT SHOT!

2007-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

thanks to gavin schrock for getting up way early to take this picture

WHAT: OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE ARTWORK
WHEN: THURSDAY - 07 JUNE 2007 - 10:00A
WHERE: N47 40.438' W122 15.104'

the artwork now has a name and a place, and a party! "STRAIGHT SHOT" will be officially dedicated on thursday, june 7. please come celebrate! a map to get there is attached below, coordinates are above. press release and other details will be posted in the coming days. hope to see you on the 7th!

magic markers

2007-01-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

installation is now complete for stones #1-10 and #12. pictures are below. yesterday, we had a wrap-up meeting to close out this phase of the project. gavin schrock, guy michelson, jon jainga, kim baker, and i met to review details and make plans for the installation of stone #11 (autumn 2007). we stayed on track through most of the meeting, but then drifted into musings on names for the artwork that are a little more zesty than "sightline: standing stones" (boring). my favorite was "magic markers". :) so..below are some images of the completed work with a title below, to try on for size. feel free to send me an email to cast your vote...or if you have any suggestions for a name, i would love to hear your thoughts.

"LINEHENGE"

"WALK THE LINE"

"LINE OF SIGHT"

"THE TWILIGHT STONES"

"STATION MARKER"

"FORESIGHT/BACKSIGHT"

dawn 'till dusk

2007-01-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

it was a long day out in the wind and rain today. i'm not going to write much more except that it pleases me to no end to report that all eleven stones are now installed (the final stone will be installed in autumn 2008). our next work day will be tuesday, 09 JAN 07. we will finish grading and landscaping at that time. here are some shots from today:

7:30 - eric and maestro set stone #8

9:20 - stone #8-9 across the great meadow

10:05 - excavation for stone #12 on the sports meadow

14:19 - backfilling stone #7

15:08 - final grading - stones #1-4

17: 19 - maestro calls it a day

mission impossible?

2007-01-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

i can honestly say that i didn't think it could be done. i didn't really think that the eye holes would line up. a series of 1,200 lbs. stones, each with a 2" eye hole, in such perfect alignment that one can peer through the stones, over the course of one kilometer end to end??? the holes were drilled in china. the footings were cast in renton. the survey was done two weeks ago and the site here in seattle is a soggy mess. with so many variables, i didn't think we had a chance at nailing the sightline, but maestro, eric, and brian made a believer out of me today. with a little jostling, shimming, nudging, and prodding, stones #1-6 are aligned, sealed and set. one can sight clear through from ten feet away or more. i am awed and amazed.

tomorrow we plan to set stones #7-9, excavate/install #12, and begin backfilling. all is on schedule. here are some pictures:

epoxy applied to rod supports

stone #1 lowered onto rod supports

unhook...

maestro takes a look...

nudge, shim, shim, nudge...

maestro takes another look...

the view through stones #1-#6

brian sets rebar for the concrete collar.

so far so good

2007-01-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

the crew made great progress today. stones #1-6 are aligned and in place. i spent most of the morning coating exposed surfaces with anti-graffiti sealant while eric, brian, and maestro set the stones and aligned the eye holes. here are some pictures, beginning with yesterday's installation of stone #10 at the 150 marker:

install schedule

2007-01-03T06:56:00.000-08:00

here's the schedule for baseline installation this week. i will take delivery of the stone sometime later this morning. attached is a map of where we will be working...if you are in the area, come on by!

WED 03 JAN - survey for stone #12/stones delivered/offloaded morning/install afternoon
THU 04 JAN - install
FRI 05 JAN - install/final pour
MON 08 JAN - landscaping/finish work
THU 11 JAN - wrap-up meeting

good news!

2006-12-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

the stones have been released! last week i received word from erik at yellow mountain stoneworks that the stones passed through customs inspection just fine and are now resting comfortably in a storage facility downtown. the much anticipated delivery is scheduled for wednesday morning, 03 JAN 07.

as the baseline project evolves, the surrounding landscape is evolving as well. charles anderson has designed a grid forest that plays off the central axis of the baseline. this area, known as "the flyway", will provide a beautiful forest setting for park visitors to enjoy while the red alders will provide an attractive environment for birds and other wildlife. volunteers for MESA have planted most of the trees west of the baseline and have plans to continue with more plantings to the east. on clear days, the baseline and surrounding woodlands will frame a splendid view of mount rainier to the south. the collaboration with MESA and charles anderson architects has added an exciting dimension to the project. below is an overall perspective on the layout of the stones, stretching for one full kilometer from the 000 mark at the south end to the 1050 mark on the north edge of the sports meadow.

drive it like it's stolen!

2006-12-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

thanks to maestro for the pictures (and the keys).

On-Grid

2006-12-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

the baseline installation is now officially on hold. we will resume installation on 03 JAN 07. with the holidays upon us, the stones in lock-down, and some key folks out of the country, it's time for some forced relaxation.

a new series of visual works is underway in the studio. inspired by land survey, global positioning, and nuances of the baseline, my eye is drawn to the contrast between navigating by stones and navigating by satellites. one reference system is so local, the other, so vast.

OnGRID 1

ON-Grid is a grassroots initiative that will daisy-chain real time networks of satellite systems and earth-bound reference stations into a continuously operating, highly accurate positioning system that is accessible to all. more about On-Grid and how to voice your support can be found here:

article from GPS WORLD magazine.

OnGRID 2

these images explore local landscapes, open waters, islands, and hurricanes in the context of global positioning. please send comments if you would like to share your impressions. i would love to hear your feedback on the work.

OnGRID3

...but is it art?

2006-12-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

day #2 of installation is now behind us and all of the footings are in place.

we may need a snorkle and fins to find them again, but the footings are there, indeed. we had some wild weather in the seattle area last week. the storm delayed delivery of the stones (again). it is now likely that the stones will be installed during the first week of the new year. here are some images of the site as it stands today:

the white circles indicate the centerpoint of each stone. what determines the spacing between the stones? i'm not sure...you'll have to ask gavin schrock. the spacing follows a logarithmic progression of such great significance to surveyors that i have not yet been cleared for that information..hopefully, gavin will bring me up to speed, soon.

here is a shot of the baseline footings looking north...

...and here is a shot looking south, towards lake washington

"rush to completion"

2006-12-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

we just completed day #1 of excavation and installation. we're off to a roaring start and all is on schedule. maestro and brian from merlino construction aligned and secured the first three of ten footings.

i am not going to gripe about the weather. nor am i going to whine about how wet and cold we were out there today...

...and i will not say even one word about how the footings splashed mud all over when the back hoe placed them down during the most torrential of today's many torrential downpours. seattle is a beautiful place. i chose to live here. what's a little rain? and then i received this from one on my sailing listservs:

WEATHER ADVISORY: HIGH WINDS. FALLING TREES AND POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY. THERE MAY BE DAMAGE TO SOME STRUCTURES. HAZARD FROM FLYING DEBRIS TONIGHT. PEOPLE SHOULD RUSH PROJECTS TO COMPLETION. PREPARE FOR HIGH WINDS. LOOSE OBJECTS AROUND THE YARD SHOULD BE SECURED. BOAT MOORINGS SHOULD BE CHECKED. THE STRONGEST WINDS SO FAR THIS SEASON ARE LIKELY TONIGHT.

flying debris and falling trees were not specified as part of the original artwork...but maybe this is one of those happy accidents...an intervention from the spirit world...a collaboration with nature. tomorrow is another day. i am trying to keep an open mind.

survey is complete!

2006-12-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

we have just completed the survey for the baseline artwork with hubs at 5' and 10' offset. these offset marks will be used to align the footings and final placement of the stones. it is such a thrill to see the stakes in the ground marking the exact placement of the artwork! many thanks to gavin schrock and mike lynch for enduring wind and rain to get the job done. here are some images from today. more coming soon...

mike shoots a line from 150 to 430

staking stone #9

gavin takes a reading at the 430 station

perri pounding hubs

total station at the 150 mark

well...they're almost here...

2006-12-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

we are still awaiting an update from the USDA with an estimated release time/date for the stones. here are a couple of images before the finished pieces were tucked in their crates. nicole and erik took these pictures during their recent visit to china:

barring any significant delays, here is the installation schedule:

12-13 DEC 06 TUE/WED
+ SURVEY COMPLETE
+ HUBS PLACED

14 DEC 06 THURS
+ EXCAVATION/COMPACTION
+ FOOTINGS DELIVERED/UNLOADED
+ CASE 580 DELIVERED/UNLOADED

15 DEC 06 FRI
+ FOOTINGS SET
+ STONE DELIVERED/UNLOADED
+ EPOXY ROD

18 DEC 06 MON
+ INSTALL STONES
+ CONCRETE POUR

19 DEC 06 TUES
+ LANDSCAPING

they're here!

2006-12-12T10:58:00.000-08:00

the stones have arrived from china, at last. USDA has shown particular interest in the crates and so...the stones are scheduled to be drayed to a testing facility today or tomorrow for further inspection. erik and nicole from yellow mountain sent these fine pictures along.

today, i met on site with jon jainga from parks and lynn and bonnie from MESA. we identified a flat, paved, secure area to store the stones in between the time they are delivered and the installation. MESA generously offered to contribute as much woodchip as needed to finish the landscaping around the stones. this is great news, as now the stones and the surrounding "forest grid" (charles anderson architects) will flow together seamlessly.

tomorrow, gavin and i will survey the site and pound in hubs for placement of the stones. it is beginning to feel like this work may, indeed, be permanently sited before i depart for india. let's hope that the customs office is expeditious and doesn't feel the need to admire the art for too terribly long...

somewhere out there...

2006-12-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

...is a large barge with twelve beautiful standing stones tucked away all neat and tidy in little wooden crates amongst the plastic hair curlers, high-top sneakers, and other assorted necessities. at last, it's heading this way! the shipment is expected to land in seattle on 12 DEC 06. these days are all about waiting and "what ifs".

what if the shipment is held up in customs?
what if the weather reverts back to last week's wild winterness?
what if there's another concrete strike?
what if perri departs for india before the stone arrives from china?

as of today, the plan remains the same...to layout the sightline and install the stones before the end of the year. BUT IF installation can not be completed before i depart, we wait until the end of july 2007, after the federally protected savannah sparrows complete their nesting cycle in the area of the baseline. that's a pretty big "IF" at the moment. summer does have its advantages. the land will be more stable and we won't freeze to death out there. but i am anxious to have the stones in place....and i can't wait to see them in person. nicole sent along some images of the final fabrication in china. i will post them soon.

becoming real...

2006-10-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

greetings from the baseline. thanks for bearing with us through a long time of working out details, details, details. first, here is a schematic drawing of the final installation thanks to help by VMG intern, genevieve hale-case:

and...here is the rebar for the footings, being poured as we speak:

things are picking up speed. installation for units #1-10 is scheduled for the first week in december by the capable hands of maestro scott barclay and crew from merlino construction co.. the stone has been quarried and is being honed, bored, and finished by yellow mountain stone works in china.

on the local front, gavin schrock and i are puzzling through the logarithmic arrangement of stones...searching for an answer that will double the distance between each instance without interfering with roads, wetlands and other key elements of the park infrastructure. we live and hope.

...pictures would never do this justice...

that's the latest from here. thanks for reading...more soon!

linehenge

2006-08-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

it seems that this project has acquired a new nickname thanks to our local surveyors -- linehenge. this was revealed to me by project advisor and surveyor, gavin schrock. gavin was recently featured in our local newspaper for providing data and information used to pinpoint the very center of the city of seattle. before becoming chief surveyor for linehenge, gavin did stints with the Department of Defense and as a stand-up comedian. there is no question that he is the most centered person on our team. read more about gavin and the process of pinpointing the center of seattle here:

THE CENTER OF SEATTLE

engineering and placement

2006-08-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

the prototype process continues. we have modified the specs to request more of a half-round shape and irregular top. the hope is that this will result in a more naturalistic feel for each stone. tom bykonen of perbyx-bykonen engineering has the design on his desk and is running calcs for the footing and joinery. the greatest challenge of the engineering process is designing a way for the sightline to be "dialed" into alignment at installation time. it appears that the first three stones will share the same footing. this foundation will also provide a concrete "apron" where kids and adults will stand to peer through the stones. this is designed to blend very well with the surrounding tall grasses and native plants. next week i am scheduled to review exact placement with the folks from MESA. more soon!

prototype

2006-07-22T10:41:00.001-07:00

last week, the quarry in china selected a piece of limestone that is large enough and in good enough shape to generate a prototype. we have been working back and for the past few days to mold the prototype into what will be the final basic form for all of the stones. the prototype, in its current state, looks like this:

nicole gelpi (yellow mountain stone works ) and i have been in communication with the fabricators in china to request a more organic feel and a less regular shape. yellow mountain is doing an incredible job facilitating this process. we are looking for a deeper cleft and a more irregular top. more variability...more whacking on stone... white veins can be seen running perpendicular through the stone. this should show up beautifully on the honed surface, but we must be careful that the veins do not create weak spots that could potentially break. for the final stones, we will spec that the stone is cut with veins at odd angles, not perpendicular to the bedding plane. i should have more pictures of the prototype early next week. the quarry where this stone is being pulled from is located in yichang (hubei provence) on the yangzi river. more images coming soon. stay tuned and thanks for reading.

2006-07-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

this is what the stone looks like when it is pulled from the quarry.

stone schematic

2006-06-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

here is a schematic drawing of what the stone installation may look like (engineering pending).

ink jade limestone

2006-06-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

i think i have found the perfect stone. a sample is being shipped from china. ink jade limestone has the advantage of weathering very well, features a naturalistic cleft and can handle a wide range of surface treatments. the white veins are a unique feature of this stone, bound to appear randomly throughout each piece. though it is dark, limestone won't be too hot in the summer sun. perfect. this image shows how the stone handles different surfacing techniques. the stones for the park will be honed on the front (south side) with deep cleft on the back (north side). the north side will gather moisture, and moss, settling in nicely over time. the south side will remain smooth and clean to the touch, providing a fine surface for sighting through the oculi.