Untitled (Blue Heron) + Untitled (Sun/Heron, Frog/Moon)
Tyson Simmons, Keith Stevenson, and Sam Obrovac
South County Recycling & Transfer Station
Muckleshoot artworks embody teachings of reciprocity, stewardship, and connection.
Two permanent artworks created by Muckleshoot artists Tyson Simmons, Keith Stevenson, and Sam Obrovac welcome visitors to the South County Recycling & Transfer Station (SCRTS), situating the facility within the cultural, ecological, and enduring Indigenous history of the White River watershed.
The first piece, Untitled (Blue Heron), centers Blue Heron and Frog, figures that reflect Muckleshoot teachings about reciprocity and stewardship. A red cedar pole, drawn from a log estimated to be nearly 186 years old, forms the hand-carved body of the heron. At its base stands Frog, while wing panels incorporating timber salvaged during construction of the facility extend outward on either side, illustrating wetland animals and Tribal stories through Coast Salish design.
Nearby, thirteen circular medallions paired with upright paddles are integrated into the retaining wall along the site's entrance. Featuring Frog, Heron, Sun, and Moon, the installation references the traditional lunar calendar and the interconnected relationships among these beings, the landscape, and the natural cycles that sustain them. Fabricated in aluminum, acrylic, and painted and sandblasted concrete, the work unfolds along the public approach to the scale house, creating a visual sequence encountered by visitors as they enter and exit the station.
The Muckleshoot artist team is a collective of Tribal artists, carvers, and designers working across traditional and contemporary forms. Their practice is grounded in storytelling, environmental stewardship, and intergenerational knowledge-sharing. Through partnerships with Tribal, civic, and cultural institutions, they carry forward Muckleshoot traditions across the region.
About the Location
South County Recycling & Transfer Station
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