On a college campus, time is seldom spent admiring the world and environment around you. George Trakas would like to fix this, in the form of an installment that encourages students to take a minute from their busy schedules to admire this beautiful world we live in.

George Trakas, of Quebec, is an architect-turned-sculptor, who makes installations all over the world that inspire people to take a look around and appreciate the world around them. He uses natural features, such as sourced wood and stones in his sculptures to integrate the environment into his works.

Upon approaching Bay View Station, one would not think that what they were viewing is a piece of art, but rather a simple set of bleachers. Further inspection, though, would reveal that you really are in the presence of beauty, simply by turning around and looking at the view that this piece allows. A beautiful view of the bay interrupted only by trees, with the occasional vibrant-yellow leaf, and the houses, which are well-kept and hardly “interrupt” the view. The piece is made with fir planks and steel posts, making an industrial, yet natural look. Trakas was inspired by the old Bellingham lumber mill, as well as the Nooksack River, and he used stones from the river between the sections of the walkway in order to tie it together with a natural feel. Not all of the decks are aligned, which reflects the natural chaos, in the steep hill being “uneven” and unpredictable.

The location of this art piece plays a huge role. It is something that doesn’t fit just anywhere, unlike other art pieces at Western, and this one connects the city to the University. That is just one of the roles that it plays. Imagine what it would be like if it were anywhere else. There would just be a hill full of grass and leaves, that would become a pain to walk on when it rains. It would just be a muddy disaster. Can you now see the other role it plays? That’s right, we can use it as a walkway. I don’t know how many artists would be happy with someone stepping on their art pieces, or how many art pieces you can walk on, but George Trakas would be pleased if you placed your muddy feet on it. That said, it serves more than just a walkway and a connection to the city. It is a viewing station where students can sit on the deck and take some time from their busy days to reflect and enjoy the view.

This leads us to the relevance it plays today. It is not an ordinary walkway. When Trakas visited the school again in 2015 he explained why he created it this way. Since it is connected to the music building, he was inspired to give it a piano type shape. The decks are meant to take the shape of a keyboard, which creates somewhat of a challenge to get across, but that is what he wanted. It is meant to be something out of the ordinary that we can walk on and have an adventure while trying to get across or simply sitting on it to take in the view.

Group Members:

Jonatan Gonzales: Research, Writing

Gabe Wears: Research, Writing, Photos