Groups on a budget that would like to incorporate a fun arts outing can take to the streets for self-guided tours of public art on display throughout Washington.
At the Seattle Southside-based Des Moines Marina they can find murals, sculptures and art installations created by area artists, and in Tacoma, dozens of pieces by native Dale Chihuly are scattered throughout downtown.
“The best example is the Bridge of Glass,” said Nick Mann, group marketing manager for Travel Tacoma + Pierce County. “This is a pedestrian bridge specifically built to display Chihuly’s art.”
Situated within walking distance to Meydenbauer Center and Bellevue’s downtown hotels are more than 120 works of public art, both indoors and out, that attendees will find by following an ArtMap courtesy of the Bellevue Arts Commission.
“The Downtown Bellevue Art Walk is a great way to see popular spots as well as hidden treasures,” said Sharon Linton, marketing and communications manager for Visit Bellevue Washington.
Groups may follow various mapped trails at the 20-acre San Juan Islands Sculpture Park, which according to Amy Nesler, communications assistant for San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
Attendees walking around downtown Vancouver will see dozens of building murals, colorful storm drain murals, sculptures and public art installations, including stacked rainbow-colored umbrellas.
Jacob Schmidt, director of marketing and communications for Visit Vancouver USA, added groups can book a downtown party tour via Couve Cycle, which includes brewery and public art stops.
Groups meeting in Spokane can grab maps of the Spokane Sculpture Walk, which features 21 artworks scattered throughout the city, including the Garbage-Eating Goat.
“The self-guided tour meanders through Riverfront Park,” said Kate Hudson, public relations manager for Visit Spokane. “Groups can then wander into Gonzaga University’s free art gallery, Jundt Art Museum.”
And Walla Walla, known as a wine haven, also has numerous pieces of public art downtown, including the popular Thoughts Discovered sculpture.
Attendees can print out guides to the ArtWalla Walking Tour from Visit Walla Walla’s website.
