We’re down to the final three candidates for the public art project that will greet Plymouth residents and their neighbors at 501 Rainier. Little Saigon community members have been essential to the selection process, and each of these proposals reflect their desire for public art that considers the cultural and historical context of their neighborhood.

“Returning Home” by Louis Chinn and Huameng Yu

Louis Chinn and Huameng Yu (missTANGQ) collaborated on “Returning Home,” a wind-powered sculpture composed of a flock of origami cranes. Chinn and Yu chose cranes for their special significance in many East Asian cultures. When the sculpture’s double-helix shape spins in the wind, the birds appear to land. The base doubles as a bench, in either a nest or lotus flower design. At night, LED lights illuminate the sculpture from below, creating a lantern effect.

“Marine Links” by Miya Sukune

Miya Sukune’s work, “Marine Links,” features aluminum cutouts of a turtle, squid, giant octopus, and salmon. These aquatic animals tie the Puget Sound environment and cultures of Little Saigon together. “Marine Links” also keeps local history in mind. The salmon cutout incorporates the sign of a family fishing tackle business, Linc’s Tackle, that once stood on the building site.

Torii side of “Welcome : Pause” by Erin Shigaki

Detailed view of the Đính side of the stone column.

Meanwhile, Erin Shigaki’s work uses manmade cultural symbols. “Welcome : Pause” is a carved and hand-painted seven-foot stone column, with representations of a Vietnamese Đính on one side and a Japanese Torii on the other. As Shigaki writes in her proposal: “A Đính is a meeting place for the people in many Vietnamese villages, as well as where guardian spirits are thought to reside… [A] Torii marks the passage from the regular world to a sacred space.” A round cutout in the stone contains metal jingle cones, which are, as Shigaki says, “used by Coast Salish and other tribes throughout the country for a healing dance.” They add an element of sound and motion to an otherwise static piece.

The committee will meet to decide the final selection later this week. If you’re interested in providing feedback, please contact Bo Scarim at bscarim@plymouthhousing.org.