Scorched logs stretch out on the Seattle Center Lawn right below the Space Needle.
The message comes through strongest when viewed through the Space Needle's Glass Floor. SOS, the universal sign of distress.
It's artist Ted Youngs’ response to the wildfire smoke that obscured Seattle skies during the past two summers.
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“I felt like that distress signal of an SOS the classic Morse code was a really great way to sort of visualize that using the medium itself that burnt.”
The logs come from the 2017, Jolly Mountain Fire which burned 36,000 acres near Cle Elum.
On Monday, Youngs’ crew harvested 20-thousand pounds of logs and trucked them to Seattle overnight.
Robert Kirkpatrick has done some logging in his time but wondered why these logs are here. He was reminded of last summer’s smoke.
“Yeah, yeah, last year was the first time I've ever had to wear a mask in my life because of the smoke.”
Ted Youngs has also placed a single log called Lone Fir at the Pacific Science Center.
Inside, the Center is putting the finishing touches on a Wildfire exhibit that opens this Saturday. It's aimed at educating children.
“Living with smoke that's for us here in Western Washington the surprising couple of summers where we had two weeks where the quality of air is the worst of the world,” said exhibit manager Felicia Maffia
Between now and the fall thousands of families will walk the past the logs that are sounding an alarm.
“I hope people experience emotions, that would be the strongest thing that it doesn't leave them feeling bored and uninterested but hopefully it drives them to feel like there are actions they can take to improve their lives and the environment around them,” said Youngs.
Cox Media Group
