Seattle - Murals and Miscellaneous Other

As we tried to wind our way to the aquarium amongst all the construction that was blocking the obvious way there, we came across this beautiful wall which was suitably aquarium themed. 

This mural was randomly in the middle of an underpass that we walked through.

Sidewalk wisdom.

Lots of construction near the aquarium and Pike Place Market.

My great nephew, Kore, would have been SO excited to see and browse through this store in
Pike Place Market. 

Such colourful and fun designs on the chocolate bar wrappers.

A Wyland mural on the end of the Edgewater Hotel.
I love his murals!

Very nice fountain near the science centre.
Note size comparison to the man standing on the other side.

View from the lobby of the Edgewater Hotel.

Supper with a view from the Edgewater Hotel.

Dressing up for dinner.

Leaving Seattle behind.

View of Mount Baker on the ferry ride home.

Seattle - Pacific Science Center and Butterfly Garden

We always love visiting butterfly gardens and the one at the Pacific Science Center was excellent. We went right at the start of the day so it wasn't very busy and we had lots of time to take photos. 

I love the bright blue of the Blue Morpho, although it seems like it's hard to get photos of that side. Fortunately, the darker brown underside is beautiful in its pattern.

Milkweed butterfly - Paper Kite

Swallowtail

Longwing butterfly - Leopard Lacewing

Owl Butterfly

Lacewing

We quickly wandered through other parts of the Center and what we saw was really interesting. So many interactive things and we really enjoyed the ones involving music, hearing and sight. Young kids could be entertained for HOURS here! 

In a small garden area there were these cute little statues of fish, a flying pig, and an octopus. 

The were several water features outside which highlighted the movement and power of water. 

And who doesn't love a couple good dinosaur statues?!?  :-) 

 

Seattle - Chihuly Garden and Glass

The Chihuly Garden and Glass is always an amazing place to visit. The variety of colours and shapes, imagination and the amount of time and effort that goes into creating these art pieces is truly mind boggling.

Ironically, this first photo that I share is of a piece that is all white! But is very suitably named. 

"Winter Brilliance"

"Sealife Tower"
"...takes inspiration from the sea and Puget Sound ... includes forms such as starfish, octopus, conch shells, sea anemones, urchins and manta rays."

"Persian Ceiling"
Suspended above, this work covered the ceiling over the length of a small room.

"Niijima Floats"
"... inspired by the artist's trip to the Japanese island of Niijima and by childhood memories of discovering Japanese fishing net floats along the beaches of Puget Sound."

"Ikebana Boat"
"... features long, flower-like glass stems inspired by the Japanese art of ikebana."

"Macchia Forest"
"Chihuly began the Macchia series in 1981 with the desire to use all 300 colors available to him in the hotshop ..."

The Glasshouse Sculpture is 100 feet long!
(See video below.)

There were also lots of beautiful outdoor exhibits. 

Andrew and I with the Seattle Tower.

Seattle - Olympic Sculpture Park

Finally getting back to a few photos from our trip to Seattle!

The Olympic Sculpture Park (free, outdoors, and just a few blocks from where we were staying) is operated by the Seattle Art Museum. 

"Father and Son"
At the time, I didn't even notice the "son" in the smaller fountain but there's a photo of it in the above link. 

"The Eye Benches"
Seating is on the other side. 

"The Ampersand"

"The Eagle"
It look so different from every angle but I think the above looks most like an eagle.

A cute fellow visitor to the park.

"Echo"
"Jaume Plensa's sculpture Echo is named for the mountain nymph of Greek mythology who offended the goddess Hera -- she kept her engaged in conversation and prevented her from spying on one of Zeus' amours. To punish Echo, Hera deprived the nymph of speech, except for the ability to repeat the last words spoken by another. The sculptor created this monumental head of Echo with her eyes closed, seemingly listening or in a state of meditation."