Wild Life by Tom Otterness - City of Connell

Installed last year along the main street of Connell, Tom Otterness' multi-piece artwork Wild Life brings new vibrancy to downtown. The bronze artwork was cast and fabricated at the nearby (well nearby for Eastern Washington) Walla Walla Foundry.

 

The artworks were unveiled and dedicated during the city's celebration of its 100th anniversary, with Tom a guest of honor in the town's parade! Connell festival celebrates city's 100th anniversary, Kristi Pihl, Tri-City Herald, 09/03/10.

 

Tom says that, "Wild Life celebrates the town of Connell, Washington and people living there. The sculptures commemorate and reflect on small town life.  Animals from the surrounding countryside have come to Columbia Street to interact with people in their everyday activities. My hope is that these sculptures will encourage new visitors to come and visit Connell and the residents of Connell to explore Columbia Street, spend time together and enjoy the outdoors."

 

Want more pictures? Visit our Wild Life Gallery and become a fan of our Facebook page - WashingtonArts. And visit the artist's website for more images of Wild Life. You can now watch Wild Life the Movie, a short film by Coleen Fitzgibbon.

 

True Love scene from Wild Life, Tom Otterness, 2010. Photo by Dirk Reinauer.

The work consists of six groupings of characters seated at picnic tables (with room for guests). A small Train scene in front of City Hall references a nearby mural depicting two painted trains and the story of the founding of Connell.

In Farmers and Bankers two farm families (rabbits and small people) are meeting with the bank to mortgage their farm to buy a manure spreader. Game Nite (in front of the American Legion) features a group of animals and veterans in the midst of a card game. In Opening Day one hunter and a quail are having a friendly cup of coffee before opening day. There is a place set at the table for visitors. A rabbit family and a family of farmers and their children wait outside the Sunset movie theater for a show in True Love. At the Post Office, a coyote has ordered a mouse in the mail. On a second table, a small woman opens a letter full of children. In between these scenes, a hopeful frog prince receives a letter from a princess.

 

Wild Life Coloring Book

In addition to the artwork itself, Tom created a Wild Life Coloring Book (PDF) that invites children (of all ages) to write stories about and draw pictures of their favorite sculptures.

 

Walla Walla Foundry

Another Tri-City Herald article on the Walla Walla Foundry, Foundry leaves lasting impression on art world, captures a quote from one of the members of the local selection committee:

“Being at the Foundry opened my eyes to the extensive process behind each bronze sculpture,” said Melissa Kelly, a Connell resident who served on the art selection committee for the Connell project.  “I had no idea that the process was so complex.  These sculptures could have been poured in New York City where Tom (Otterness) is from, but he chooses the Walla Walla Foundry for many of his works. That says a lot about the quality of work the foundry does.”

 

State Art Collection

The artworks, including additional sculptures in Connell by artists Jean Whitesavage and Nick Lyle are now part of the State Art Collection. Local art selection committees worked with Washington State Arts Commission staff to select artists from the Public Artist Roster, review artwork proposals, and make final artwork selection decisions. 1/2 of 1% for art funding for both of the Connell projects came from the recent expansion of the nearby Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.