New Art in the Meadow Shelter
The Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park underwent a full renovation in 2023, and the enclosed space is now available for park visitor use. This beautiful shelter can accommodate up to 150 people and is designed to host group functions and educational events at the park. The tall, wood-planked ceilings and full sliding doors create an open indoor/outdoor space, perfect for certain events, however, the design features also resulted in acoustic challenges within the space.
To address these acoustic issues, and add character to the Meadow Shelter, Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park (FLSSP), in partnership with Washington State Parks and with funding from the City of Issaquah Arts Commission, sought artists to create custom artwork for functional acoustic panels.
Bethany Fackrell and Austin Picinich, two celebrated local artists from East King County, were selected to create six pieces of art for this space. The artwork represents iconic wildlife that resides in the park, the heritage of Lake Sammamish, and the ability for our diverse communities to coexist with each other and with our natural environment. Bethany, a Snoqualmie Tribe member and Navy veteran, creates art in the Coast Salish Indigenous style; Austin, a local student and founder of the Save Our Salmon (SOS) Mural Series initiative, uses vibrant colors to spark joy. Both artists, inspired by the natural world around them, actively work to restore the threatened native Kokanee salmon population in Lake Sammamish.
Bethany Fackrell’s pieces are entitled “siʔiʔab sabeqwa (Honorable Great Blue Heron),” “Kokanee Resilience,” and “Restoring Relations.” Bethany uses art to spread teachings, stories, and real experiences. “I use traditional Salish patterns in a contemporary way to bring my culture to light… I am very involved in our cultural ceremonies, gatherings, meetings, and harvests—being a Snoqualmie Tribal member is an overall way of life for me.” Find her artwork at www.canoecultureconnections.com.
Austin Picinich’s pieces are entitled “Heron – Driftwood Perch,” and “Kokanee Run I & II.” Austin says “Art just makes people happy, and the vibrant colors on a large scale in my work are contagious. My goal with my paintings is to put a smile on people’s faces.” Find his artwork and learn more about his SOS mural initiative at @austins.awesome.art and www.austinsart.net.
The custom art and acoustic panels in the Meadow Shelter are captivating and functional and infuse the shelter with the spirit of Lake Sammamish State Park, its wildlife and habitat, the Coast Salish people, and the area's history. This art will be viewable and inspiring to all who visit and use the Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park.
FLSSP and Washington State Parks thank the City of Issaquah Arts Commission for funding this project. Special gratitude goes to Bethany Fackrell and Austin Picinich for their exceptional and inspiring art. And finally, thank you to Valerie Smith, of Salter Inc, Jeanette Hesedahl, of Censeo AV+Acoustics, and Michael Yantis, of Yantis Acoustics, for your expertise and consultation on this project.
The Meadow Shelter is a beautiful public space within Lake Sammamish State Park, and can be rented by residents and visitors for various events. For more information and to make reservations, visit: Create Reservation (goingtocamp.com)
To celebrate the installation of the new panels, FLSSP is hosting a reception on July 8 from 6 to 7pm. Please consider joining us and learning more about the art and new arts programming with FLSSP this summer. Please join us! RSVP here
