Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the University of Washington.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1989.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1989.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1989.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2011.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1995.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1995.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1995.

Artwork copyright Buster Simpson. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1995.

Parapet Relay, 1995

Buster Simpson
American (born 1942)

Location: University of Washington - Tacoma, Tacoma

About the Artwork

Buster Simpson created Parapet Relay to honor history and community -- the Garretson Woodruff-Pratt building’s history as a warehouse and the University of Washington Tacoma’s relationship with the neighborhood. The artwork is made of two text panels and three sidewalk viewing markers. Two, long panels of text along the building's roofline change when seen from different angles. Depending on where you are standing on the campus, the signs read as one of the following words: IDEA, WISDOM, GATHER, LABOR, STORAGE, UW, or TACOMA. Parapet Relay also includes three markers that are set into the concrete sidewalks of the surrounding area. They mark ideal viewing points that help you see a specific scene of the campus. This provides context and extra information for the text panels as you look at the Garretson Woodruff-Pratt building, the UW Tacoma campus, and the surrounding area.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with University of Washington.

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Buster Simpson creates conceptual sculptures and public art installations with an emphasis on our relationship to urban growth, the structure of our communities, and our interaction with the environment.