︎

SARAH KAVAGE

I’m a Seattle based visual artist and cultural organizer who makes ephemeral art about place. 

HOME  / PROJECTS   

ABOUT

PAINTING & DESIGN

SARAH KAVAGE

I’m a Seattle based visual artist who makes artwork about place. 

HOME
ABOUT
PAINTING & DESIGN

RIVERTON CREEK

2020-2022

Assistants
Fathia Abukar, Viridiana Alvarado Mejia, Castle Cooke, Cecelia DeLeon (lead), Kevin Tran

Fabricators
 Hannah Hirsekorn, Catherine Grisez, Robert Zverina

Texts for mural contributed by James Rasmussen, Ken Workman, Chelsea Hendrickson, Fathia Abukar, Viridiana Alvarado Mejia, Rose Lulengo, Nguyen Ho (Tina), Kevin Tran, Natalia Tikhonova

Thanks to
Mike Perfetti, Tracy Gallaway, and Briar Bates (RIP)

Photos
 Robert Zverina, Jason Neuerberg, Cari Simpson, Sarah Kavage
A Refuge, in progress. Photo Zverina.com

Integrated artwork for the restoration of Riverton Creek: A mural, a sound piece, a carving, 3 living willow sculptures, and a sign along the Green River Trail in Tukwila. The creek was daylighted where it meets the Duwamish and the pipe that held it back was removed, allowing salmon to once again swim up the creek. I wanted the work to change and grow along with the restoration.

This stretch of river is home to a number of culturally imporant sites for the Duwamish People, including North Wind’s Weir and Duwamish Hill (Grandmother’s Hill), both of which have seen major restoration efforts over the years. In addition to the Riverton Creek restoration, two other large restoration sites - Duwamish Gardens and Chinook Wind - are visible just across the river. 

Visit
By bike, use map point 2000 Green River Trail, Tukwila WA
To drive, use map point 3225 South 116th Street, Tukwila, WA 98165

Crosscut article by Brangien Davis
BTS photo / video essay about A Refuge from zverina.com
City of Tukwila website about the project, with map

A Refuge in situ, 2021. Naturally dyed and carved debris log. The piece is covered up completely twice a day by tides. Spring 2022 Mother Tree, 2022. Made out of willow that was pruned from the large, fallen "mother tree" and then planted and woven back around it. Mother Tree, growing like a mother just a few months later King Tide Orchestra, 2022 King Tide Orchestra, in progress during the King Tides of winter 2021-2022. King Tide Orchestra, in progress. The willow proved remarkably resilient and held fast from the day it was planted. Castle doing final touchups King Tide Orchestra, Feb 2022. The willow we used was wild harvested from within a mile of the restoration site. King Tide Orchestra, 2022 Art & restoration paddle tour views King Tide Orchestra from the water, July 2022. Water View, February 2022. Water View, June 2022. Water View, February 2022 June 2022. The bench has become a popular spot. This guy works in the adjacent office park and often takes his lunch breaks here. Fathia with her text. The texts for the mural were commissioned from multilingual speakers in Tukwila. The text authors also helped to design and paint the mural. Viri painting the mural, 2021 We painted this mural at the height of fishing season with all the fisherpeople down at the river. I was also commissioned to design the interpretive signage that went along with the restoration project. For The Water is a simple chime rail for sending sonic blessings to the river and the creek.

BACK < RIVERTON CREEK                                NEXT > TUKWILA A.I.R.