At the halfway point of the Visit Vancouver USA challenge (an app designed to encourage participants to get outdoors and explore the area), my eighth walk took me to the banks of the Columbia River and the Waterfront Renaissance Trail.
Chules and I went early in day to avoid the “heat dome” high temperatures, so we managed to catch a bit of the sunrise pink sky.
We’ve visited this area many times, so we strolled the familiar walkway for about a mile. I always enjoy seeing the art installations, including this sculpture of Ilchee, by artist Eric Jensen.
The sign next to the sculpture tells us that:
“Ilchee, or ‘Moon Woman,’ was the daughter of Chinook Chief Comcomly. Ilchee arrived in the Fort Vancouver area in 1813, where she met and married her father’s successor, Chief Casino. She is depicted gazing west down the Columbia River, toward her family’s ancestral home at Chinook Point on the Washington coast.”
Farther east on the trail is another public art piece titled “Wendy Rose,” by the artists Women Who Weld (Sharon Agnor, Wendy Armstrong, Sumi Wu, Jennifer Corio & Kathy Wilson).
The plaque there states:
“Wendy celebrates the legacy of the women who entered the workforce at the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Wearing a bright red polka dot scarf made of glass, Wendy strides across the Bonneville Dam and is surrounded by other local symbols of the era.”
An interesting contrast between Ilchee and Wendy Rose, historically (and artistically) speaking.
So that’s eight site check-ins; seven to go!
Also an entry for the Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC) hosted by Marsha and Cee.
What Rhymes with Stanza? 
Great pics! Does part of the bridge raise?
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Yes, it’s a vertical lift span between the two uprights toward the right side of the photo. The bridge crosses the Columbia River and links the states of Oregon and Washington.
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How wonderful! Do ships still travel far upriver? Sorry for the questions haha 😉
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I like questions, and I used to be a drawbridge operator, so this is especially fun. Larger ships pretty much stop at Vancouver/Portland. And the Bonneville Dam is not much farther upstream.
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Thank you!! So, I’m guessing that it was built with a drawbridge to allow the passage of the material to build the dam? Just googled the dam! Wow and what a massive energy output! Stunning!
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Well, the first drawbridge at that site was built in 1912 I think, and the dam came along in the 1930s. But if you google the Peter Iredale, you’ll get an idea of the ships passing through in those days.
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Thank you so much and for pointing me to the wreck of the Peter Iredale! Fascinating read! 🙂
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You’re welcome. I also used to be a park ranger at the state park where the wreck of the Peter Iredale stands. 🙂
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Well, you must have been a good one as your kind and patient nature shows!! 🙂
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I was much less patient with unruly campers, but thank you. I’ve held many jobs, and that remains my favorite.
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🙂 🙂
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Wendy Rose is perfect! I could tell without even reading that she was Rosie the Riveter. Fabulous piece. You got some great angles, too. Great statue of Ilchee. Both were new to me. Thanks for sharing your amazing finds. 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. Thank you for hosting.
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Awww thank you. It’s a joy to host and see all the wonderful photographs that people have taken all over the world, and to make friends, too. 🙂
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Pingback: PPAC #11: Prescott Loo With a View – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write
You have found some real fun photos for this week. Thanks 😀
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Hi Maggie, C, Congratulations, I have chosen you as a Featured Blogger this week on PPAC for this wonderful post of two very different and lovely statues. https://alwayswrite.blog/2021/08/27/ppac-11-prescott-loo-with-a-view/
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What a nice surprise! Thank you!
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Pingback: PPAC: #11 – It’s All About Signage – Cee's Photo Challenges