City of Olympia

Abe Singer’s Grass Lake Park sculptures

Sculptor Abe Singer turned an old water tank as large as a boxcar into a series of sculptures for Olympia’s Grass Lake Park. The water tank was on the park property before the recent park renovation. It was to be removed as part of the renovation, but instead of sending the tank to a scrapyard, the city thought it would be cool if someone could repurpose it for art. The city said they would deliver the tank to the selected artist if the destination was within 60 miles of the park. Singer lives on a farm in rural Montesano, so when he was selected for this project, the city delivered the tank to his shop on the farm property where it now keeps company with his turkeys. He utilized pieces of the massive tank to create the two mushroom entryway sculptures as well as the bird blind sculpture on the bridge.

Big Plans for Rebecca Howard Park Honoring Olympia’s Black History

Plans for Olympia’s Rebecca Howard Park, named for a Black pioneer and pillar of the community in the city’s early days, would transform the downtown green space into a cultural hub including a covered stage, layers of public art, multiple gathering spaces and even a café.
The café, envisioned as a public-private partnership, would be the first of its kind in an Olympia park. Plans call for another first: a festival street — which functions like a plaza and is easily closed off for festivals — along 9th Ave. SE between Adams and Franklin.

Olympia Is Searching for Next Poet Laureate

Since 2017, the City of Olympia Poet Laureate has used the written word as a frame to explore timely topics, facilitate community conversations and revisit local landmarks and landscapes. This spring, the City of Olympia is searching for the next Olympia Poet Laureate and is inviting members of the public to submit applications for the position.

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