New piece installed at SJI Sculpture Park

||| FROM KRISTEN ARNIM for SJI SCULPTURE PARK |||

Stephen Dyer

Though colder, darker days are upon us, the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park is still open and active! We have just installed a new piece, “Kingfisher Pub,” created by local artist and maker Stephen Dyer.

Making and building things since he was a child growing up in Colorado, Dyer made his way to Tacoma and eventually Friday Harbor, building and living in boats along the way. Though he officially retired in 2015, the making and building have not stopped. His creation of “Kingfisher Pub” was installed on a platform in the Sculpture Park’s pond mid-November.

A miniature construction of a two-story pub, complete with dock, heron, and even holiday lights, the “Kingfisher Pub” is a delightful addition to the Park. Sitting on the pond’s edge, near our iconic flock of sheep created by artist David Halpurn, the Kingfisher Pub shows beautiful reflections and intricate detail.

“It felt like a floating house,” explained Sculpture Park board member Marita Holdaway when asked about its chosen location. It’s not the first art to be installed in the pond. Marita tells us, “We had three large boats installed on the pond. Although the weather has “added” its artistic weather comments, a few still exist.”

Artist and Sculpture Park board member and art educator David Halpurn has also led multiple community sculpture projects that were temporarily installed in the pond during the Summer Art Series.

Though many of the Park’s pieces are for sale, “Kingfisher Pub” was purchased by the Park and will be a permanent installation. If you are interested in finding out more about Stephen Dyer’s work, other commissions, or any of the other Park’s pieces, you can visit sjisculpturepark.com or email info@sjisculpturepark.com.

Pull on your rain boots and come on over to the Park to see the pub up close along with over 150 other creations!