Baggage Claim
Elliott's piece can be found near Carousel 15.
Richard Elliott’s Eyes on the World welcomes those who travel through the airport with radiant light and color. Three layers of bicycle reflectors are adhered to Plexiglas in a pattern that resembles Columbia Plateau baskets. The double diamond design shines on and gives blessing to all those who use the facility.
"I combine active light medium with two-dimensional geometric designs similar to patterns found from the Arctic Circle to the Amazon jungle. These designs, echoing the patterns within us, have connected people to the living fabric of life since the dawn of time.” – Richard C. Elliott
Artist
Richard C. Elliott
Date
2005
Medium
Interactive light installation (acrylic safety reflectors on Plexiglas lit from behind)
Dimensions
6' 3" high x 20' wide
The piece was retitled during fabrication from The Old Inspires the New. Elliott cites the change: “When people at the sign company asked me what it means, I explained that it was inspired from cornhusk baskets from the Plateau Indians along the Columbia. The foreman, who is from Mexico, said they refer to similar double diamond patterns as 'The Eyes of God'."
Richard C. Elliott developed a number of “signature styles” using materials from traditional oil paint to computer graphics, practicing in styles that range from folk to op art. As an artist, Elliott refrained from settling with the status quo. Elliott once said, “If you don’t get three rejection letters a month, you’re not working hard enough.” This drive and unwavering ambition led him to “paint” with acrylic reflectors, using light instead of conventional pigment to create his geometric compositions.
Between 1986 and 2009, Elliott had completed thirty public art commissions. He received his B.A. in art and economics from Central Washington University and was later honored with the Distinguished Alumni award in 2000.
Work by Richard Elliott
The River, consisting of layered acrylic reflectors, covers the windows at the City of Renton’s Municipal Parking Garage to pay homage to the Cedar River.
At the Airport
Elliott is known for his reflective contribution to the op art movement, an artistic theme characterized by the use of abstract patterns to create the illusion of movement. To see another artwork of the same artistic genre in the Sea-Tac Airport, visit Francis Celentano's Spectrum Delta II.
Follow the STQRY link below to learn more about Elliott’s local work and discover the similarities between Elliott and Celentano.
This piece greets those who travel through the airport. The artwork is lit from the interior and is inspired by Columbia Plateau baskets.