Inside view of PACCAR Pavilion from main entrance

Yesterday morning, when I walked through the door to the PACCAR Pavilion, the main entrance to Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park, it appeared to be almost devoid of people.

My favorite seating area in Pavilion for spectacular and ever changing views of park sculptures and shipping activity on Elliott Bay

As I sat down at my favorite table near the glass wall facing Elliott Bay, happily anticipating several relaxed hours spent reading and sketching, I noticed a beehive of activity in the Alvord Art Lab. Intrigued, I quietly entered the room. Ms. Victoria Clayton’s 35 6th grade students, on a field trip from the Annie Wright school in Tacoma, were in that room making sculptures from found materials, including wire and pieces of wood. These students were focused and totally oblivious to me as I stood at the doorway watching them create.

Ms. Victoria Clayton outside the Pavilion classroom with part of Geoff McFetridge installation 'In the Mind' visible to left

Part of Geoff McFetridge 'In the Mind' site-specific installation

Annie Wright 6th graders heading to PACCAR Pavilion entrance with sculptures in tow

Out in the main space, Victoria explained that her 11-year-old students had completed an earlier docent-led tour of two sections of the park. When the kids were on the Seattle Cloud Cover bridge, which connects the West Meadow and Grove to the Shore, the noise from traffic and the loud voices of the children made it difficult to hear the docent. At the highest section of the park, the North Meadow area, the kids wanted to stand under Calder’s massive 40 foot tall stabile, EAGLE. They were excited to view such a huge sculpture at close range.

One of the students, Daniel, a budding photographer, looked up and started framing parts of the sculpture with his fingers. He asked Victoria to shoot those images and she did. The kids had a fine time viewing the Space Needle and Elliott Bay through various sections of Calder’s sculpture.

When they left the Eagle and walked down a narrow path into the Valley and came upon Richard Serra’s monumental sculpture WAKE, they got quieter and quieter, and when they started walking around and through the five parts of the 300-ton sculpture they stopped talking completely. TOTAL SILENCE. Victoria was amazed. Such is the power of art.

Sixth grade artists with sculptures, collecting backpacks and jackets at entrance to PACCAR Pavilion, as they prepare for drive back to Annie Wright School in Tacoma

ONE MUSEUM – THREE LOCATIONS

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) sponsors a dizzying array of lectures, events, Cell Phone Audio Tours, Guided Tours, film viewings and other educational programs for adults and students. Check here to find out more.

•SAM Downtown, 1st Avenue & Union Street (Free admission on First Thursdays)

•Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 Prospect St. Volunteer Park (Free admission on First Saturdays)

•Olympic Sculpture Park, 2901 Western Avenue, Downtown Waterfront (Admission always free)

Here are descriptions of two guided tours at the Olympic Sculpture Park, quoted from the official Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park Map & Guide:

A Walk in the Park
Explore the Environment of the Olympic Sculpture Park with Local Experts

These monthly walks will be led by organizations that specialize in the environment and ecology of the Puget Sound area. Meet your guide and group in the PACCAR Pavilion every second Saturday at 1 p.m.

Site, Sculpture, Shoreline
Discovering the Olympic Sculpture Park
Saturdays, 11 a.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m.

Experience the Olympic Sculpture Park’s dynamic spaces and learn about the design and layout of the park, site history, selected sculptures, and more. Bring your walking shoes and meet a SAM docent in the PACCAR Pavilion.