Artist Andrea Wilbur-Sigo

ON BECOMING AN ARTIST

I know nothing other than being an artist. I started at the age of 3. I feel like the Creator is kind of using me as a vessel to educate and build bridges among all of our communities.

ON HER LOCAL PUBLIC ARTWORKS

My very first welcome figure [tall carvings of humans in the Coast Salish tradition] are at the Port of Seattle Cruise Terminal, at Pier 91. I made two bronze replicas of weaving combs—one represents the sun, the other the moon—that were recently installed at Shoreline Community College. They’re located along a wooded path in front of the school’s Cedar Building, and they tell a story of learning and working together to make day and night happen. I’m also in the process of carving an entryway to Brugger’s Bog Park in Shoreline.

I’m working on a 21-foot-tall welcome figure called Grandmother Frog that will soon be placed across from Smith Tower. It’s made of old-growth cedar, just like the ones I carved for the Seattle Convention Center Summit building. And I have two house posts—these are done as large panels—at the University of Washington in the włbaltxw–Intellectual House. [This gathering space honors the region’s First Nations; it’s open to the public, and free short tours are offered.]

ON HER WORK IN GALLERIES

You can view pieces of mine at Eighth Generation and Stonington Gallery, and I’m hoping to create small boxes and carved items at a new space called Tidelands. I do jewelry for Stonington, and we’ve created candles, prints, and platters with Eighth Generation. They recently launched a living room pillow set with Coast Salish patterns that I designed.

ON PLACES TO SPEND TIME IN SEATTLE

When the Pacific Science Center has new exhibits, I love to take my kids there. I enjoy the Seattle Aquarium—it puts me in a space to be creative. These are the stories that I tell in my work, what’s going on in the underwater world. What’s been done with the waterfront is amazing. And I always have to go to Ivar’s for a bowl of chowder.