And so it begins...  The Seward Park Torii is under construction! At long last, on Wednesday August 15, 2018, fences were put up to mark off the construction site on the north side of the Seward Park entrance circle. Actual groundbreaking by WS Construction is likely to be a couple of weeks off. The tree for the kasagi and nuki (crosspieces) is still in British Columbia, though it should make its way to LS Cedar on Vashon Island for cutting soon. Basalt hashira (columns) are still to be selected from Central Washington. Probably the first work you will see will be construction of the foundation for the massive columns! Fundraising is Complete! We reached our goal of $315K to build the Torii just over one year ago. Seattle Parks has taken on the project to oversee the construction. They even have a page for us: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/seward-park-torii-gate We are planning our opening celebration probably for April 2019 (cherry blossom season); we look forward to seeing you there. Keep watch for updates on the timeline and possible other events this fall. Donate! hereSeward Park Torii Project  artist rendition of new torii, by Ted Weinberg For 50 years the entrance to Seward Park was distinguished by a 26-foot tall torii. Now the Friends of Seward Park, with support from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, the Seattle Parks Foundation, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and many other community members, are working to build a replacement for the former neighborhood icon. Watch the "Seward Park Torii Story" link to documentary The history of the Seward Park Torii unfolds in this documentary created by John Thorpe and Janis Medley in 2015. This oral history project was funded by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. What is the plan for the new torii? With a planning grant from the Department of Neighborhoods, the Friends of Seward Park hired landscape architectural firm Murase Associates, working with Takumi Company, to gather community input on the design of the torii. Community participants chose a design that honors the original Seward Park torii, addresses concerns about long-term maintenance, and reflects current community values and the wilderness character of the park. The columns (hashira) of the torii will be made of natural basalt columns from central Washington. The lintel (kasagi) will be made of a single minimally worked piece of western red cedar. The crosspiece (nuki) will be a worked piece of wood that contrasts with the kasagi. Like the original Seward Park torii, this design takes inspiration from the famous 'floating' torii of Itsukushima shrine at Miyajima, Japan. The hashira are tapered upward like the camphor trees that form the hashira at Miyajima. The hashira will have stone texturing influenced by the stonework of Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who created the sculpture Black Sun in Volunteer Park. The torii will be located close to the site of its predecessor on the north side of the Seward Park Entrance Circle. Do you remember the original torii? Our oral history project is wrapped up, but there is still time to tell us your memories of the torii. Send us your memories, your impressions, or tell us why you support the new torii. It doesn't have to be fancy or more than a sentence. Send us an email to sewardparkfriends@gmail.com or post a comment onour Facebook page (click the icon below). How can I help?
How can I learn more? Thank you, Friends of Seward Park  | Original Seward Park Torii  Seward Park Torii, 1935-1986 Photograph: Seward Park, 1935, Seattle Municipal Archives, Architect: Kichio Allen Arai Carpenter: Kichisaburo Ishimitsu Major Donors  Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods Matching Fund Award Tsuchino and Mike Forrester The Tateuchi Foundation Stim Bullitt Parks Excellence FundMimi Kraus Estate Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation The John L. O'Brien Family Nintendo Company Supporters Friends of Seward Park Japanese Community Service Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington Japanese Queen Scholarship Organization Lakewood Seward Park Community Club Rainier Valley Historical Society Seattle Parks and Recreation Seattle Parks Foundation Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival Seattle Kishu Club Seward Park Audubon Center Wing Luke Museum Knute Berger, Journalist & author Rimban Castro, Seattle Buddhist Church Bruce Harrell, Council President Seattle Bob Hasegawa, State Senator, 11th District Tom Ikeda, Densho Project Sharon Tomiko Santos, State Representative, 37th District  the new torii is in collaboration with Seattle Parks Foundation and Seattle Parks and Recreation  New! Download a brochure! Torii Project Brochure: Please Donate! here Media Coverage City Living: Iconic Japanese torii to be restored Northwest Asian Weekly: Community to restore iconic Japanese gate in Seward Park Rainier Valley Post:: Community to restore iconic Japanese gate For more information about Seward Park of Seattle, visit www.sewardpark.org Please like us on our Facebook page to see the latest news!  |
