Submitted by City of Olympia
Illuminated One by Anacortes artist Leo E. Osborne is the winner of the Percival Plinth Project Peoples’ Choice Award, and will be purchased by the City of Olympia following exhibition on Percival Landing.
Voting began July 25 with an opening kick-off that allowed the community to meet the artists of the loaned sculptures exhibited along Percival Landing. Voting concluded on August 31. A total of 481 votes were received during the voting period. With 179 votes, Illuminated One by Leo E. Osborne of Anacortes was front runner, with Origami #3 Totem by Ken Hall of Lacey coming in as runner up with 71 votes. The remainder of the votes were distributed among 11 other sculptures. Comments regarding why Illuminated One appealed to voters include the quality of craftsmanship, the theme (the cormorant is a bird found in the Pacific Northwest), and the variety of texture incorporated into the work.
The winner was announced at the Olympia City Council meeting on September 23, 2014.
The exhibition of loaned sculpture will remain on Percival Landing through next spring. Following the exhibition, Illuminated One will be temporarily relocated to City Hall for one year before permanent placement somewhere else in the community. Mr. Osborne is also the sculptor of Rainforest Dream, the 2013 People’s Choice selection currently installed at City Hall.
For more information about the Percival Plinth Project, or to inquire directly with an artist about purchasing a displayed sculpture at the conclusion of the exhibition, please visit olympiawa.gov/plinth.
