Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Steve Gardner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Torch: A Northwest Fire Theft, 2013

Steve Gardner
American (born 1968)

Location: South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia

About the Artwork

Steve Gardner’s glass installation The Torch: A Northwest Fire Theft is a Puget Sound version of the Prometheus myth. In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire from the gods to give it to humans, an act that allows progress and learning.

In this Puget Sound version of the Prometheus myth, the hero is female and she brings her torch down from Mount Rainier to give fire (and knowledge) to everyone. Above her, in the sky, are constellations of the Puget Sound region: a salmon, a Salish style canoe, and an eagle. The hero is also made up of connected stars, as if she has descended from the night sky. The flame of her torch creates a circle of light, which is filled with symbols of learning and exploration. Many of these symbols relate specifically to the academics of South Puget Sound Community College: farrier’s tools, poetry, the molecular structure of water, Douglas fir cones, a circuit board, a DNA helix, a transmission valve body, and more.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with South Puget Sound Community College.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Steve Gardner creates relief and free-standing sculptures out of architectural terra cotta clay and other materials. His artworks often focus on the human figure, surface pattern, and a sense of story.
Gardner received his Bachelor of Arts degree in art and biology from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from Central Washington University in Ellensburg.