Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, June 29, 2012
www.issaquahreporter.com
Grand start Groundbreaking for Issaquah Highlands business district BY CELESTE GRACEY CGRACEY@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
Sammamish artist Cheryl Smith, left, and Rev. Dr. Suzi Robertson,ß stand in front the new mosaic reredos at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church.
KEVIN ENDEJAN, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter
ART FOR EVERYONE
Sammamish’s Good Samaritan Episcopal Church unveils community masterpiece BY KEVIN ENDEJAN KENDEJAN@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
N
ineteen months, 6,000 volunteer hours and more than 50,000 pieces of glass later, Cheryl Smith can finally take a breath.
“There’s a huge sense of pride, a huge sense of relief,” said the Sammamish muralist. “There are very mixed emotions, and just sadness that it is over.” Smith unveiled the largest piece of her career on June 17 at the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church where she is also the artist in residence. Her 200-square foot mosaic was placed on the reredos — Latin for “wall behind the altar” — and features a brightly colored and abstract rendition of the trinity. While there are some specific religious references in the design, Smith said the colors and images invite people from all backgrounds to interpret the vision in their own way. “We left it to the eye of the beholder,” she said. “We wanted it to be a powerful viewing of anyone of any faith.” Diversity was also key in the construction of
the mosaic. “This was an opportunity for people of various faiths and cultures throughout Sammamish to come together to create art and friendships,” said Smith, noting people of the Jewish and Vedic faiths, along with several other churches across the Plateau, contributed to the artwork. Within the Good Samaritan itself, Smith directed the Liturgical Arts Committee — a group of 25 volunteers with little to no artistic experience. The group started by creating 14 mosaic stations of the cross in the spring of 2010. The small stations, located along the inner walls of the nave, all represent different events in the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life.
It was a week after the hanging of the mosaic stations, however, things took a sad turn. Dan Kruse, who was the church’s original architect and designed the reredos, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 60. Members of the Good Samaritan responded to the tragedy by donating money at his funeral and that’s when the idea for the giant mosaic was born. “We felt that it would be an incredible memorial to him to beautify his wall,” Smith said. After months of planning, construction began in early 2011. “It’s so much bigger than the 14 stations of the cross combined and took so much longer and was so much more work and so much SEE MOSAIC, 9
Rebuffing economic trends, the Issaquah Highlands has managed to attract a major retail developer and keep it. The city celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the Grand Ridge Plaza, 25 acres of shopping, restaurants and entertainment June 26. It’s the final major feature left to be built in the planned community. “It will be the heart and soul of what we know as the Issaquah Highlands,” said Rene Ancinas, CEO of Port Blakely, the Highlands master developer. Regency Centers, the national developer big and SEE GROUNDBREAKING, 9
Celebrate July 4th Both Issaquah and Sammamish are planning events for the Fourth of July, but locals will need to head to the Plateau to enjoy fireworks. Check inside for a special section on activities in Sammamish. Issaquah’s Down Home Fourth kicks off at 11 a.m. with a kid’s parade from Rainier Avenue and Northwest Dogwood Street and wrap up after the 1:30 p.m. pie-eating contest. Events include live music and kids activities. Issaquah History Museums is also planning hands-on history projects for kids at the Issaquah Depot, next to the festival, which is at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Personal fireworks are banned in both cities.