Smith-Martin and Apache

Christine Bourdette / Portland, OR
Dan Corson / Seattle, WA
Benson Shaw / Seattle, WA
Suikang Zhao / New York, NY

Domestic Fabric is the collective title for the works at the Smith-Martin station. Here the artwork explores the prominent Hispanic traditions, the weave of languages and the strong family structure.

Shaw’s Traverse pavers are scattered across the station, a serpentine path of stepping stones winds through a field of evaporation and
condensation. Childhood reminiscences mingle with facts about the businesses and landmarks on a changing streetscape.

In Bourdette’s Domestic Structure, “cultural bouquets” of interweaving textile patterns and spiral staircases (in honor of the scalante family name) form the central cores of windows framed by the roots and branches of family trees and the Virgin of Guadalupe’s familiar halo glow.

Zhao’s bright Writing Vine, hanging above the canopy line in the green screen, echoes surface of his Hands sculpture and the idea of layers of language and communications. As the vines grow they will mingle in with the turning and twisting metal.

Corson’s Carpet of Languages creates an environment of shadow projections on the entryway floor. Snippets of text, real or imagined
conversations about grandmothers, are presented in a handful of languages that represent the more than 70 languages spoken in the area.