Seattle Monolith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seattle Monolith |
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| Artist | Unknown artist |
| Year | 2001 |
| Type | Steel sculpture |
| Dimensions | 30 cm × 120 cm × 270 cm (1 ft × 4 ft × 9 ft) |
| Location | Seattle |
| 47°40′51″N 122°14′53″W / 47.68083°N 122.24806°W | |
| Owner | "Some People" |
The Seattle Monolith was a mysterious and cool art project that appeared in Seattle, Washington, on New Year's Day in 2001. It looked just like the famous black monolith from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. This large steel sculpture was placed on Kite Hill in Magnuson Park without official permission. It was a type of "guerrilla art," meaning it was put up in a public place secretly by a group of artists called "Some People." They wanted to surprise everyone!
Contents
The Monolith's Journey
The Seattle Monolith had an interesting journey around the city. It appeared, disappeared, and reappeared in different spots.
Key Dates for the Monolith
- December 30, 2000: The base for the Monolith was built.
- December 31, 2000: The Monolith was put up in Magnuson Park.
- January 3, 2001: Someone took the Monolith! It was later found on Duck Island in Green Lake.
- January 5, 2001: The artists, "Some People," came forward. They took the Monolith and stored it under the Fremont Bridge. They planned to put it back in Magnuson Park for a longer time.
- January 16, 2001: The Monolith was put back in Magnuson Park.
- March 2001: The Monolith was moved from the park. This was done in time for kite flying season. It was then moved to a house in Ravenna.
- 2002: The Monolith moved again, this time to a foundry (a place where metal is cast) in the Interbay Area.
How the Monolith Was Built
The Monolith was made by Louie Raffloer at Black Dog Forge in Seattle. It was a hollow structure made of steel.
Materials and Size
The Monolith was made from 16 gauge steel and L-beams, which are strong metal supports. It measured about 1 foot by 4 feet by 9 feet. These measurements are the same as the famous Monoliths in the "Space Odyssey" movies. Metal bars called Rebar stuck out from the bottom. These bars helped attach the Monolith to its base.
Setting it Up
The base was made of four steel tubes connected by rebar. This base was buried in the ground and set in concrete. When the Monolith was put up, a fast-setting glue called epoxy was poured into the tubes. The rebar from the Monolith's bottom was then placed into these tubes, holding it firmly in place. The Monolith weighed between 350 and 500 pounds.
Funding the Project
Building the Monolith cost about $250. The artists raised this money in several creative ways.
Raising Money for the Monolith
- They held a fun party called "Apes Of Wrath" with Mexican wrestling.
- They sold "I Support the Monolith" T-shirts.
- They had an unofficial sidewalk bake sale.
- They showed the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey at a private screening.
- They also held a benefit concert at The Speakeasy Café in Belltown.
Who Were "Some People"?
The artists behind the Monolith initially wanted to stay a secret. They hoped no one would ever know who made it.
Artists Revealed
This changed after the Monolith was moved from the park and found on Duck Island. An artist named Caleb Schaber came forward. He announced that a group of artists called "Some People" were responsible for the art. Schaber later had a copy of the Monolith made for himself. In April 2001, he even ran for Mayor of Seattle, which is the leader of the city government.
For two years, not much else was known about "Some People." Then, the Seattle Times newspaper wrote an article about the Monolith's journey. In that article, Chris Lodwig finally shared more details. He told the reporter that he, Titus Grupp, and Eric Leuschner had the original idea for the project. He also said that about 50 other people helped them make it happen!
